When Data Centers Come to Town: Update

An insatiable demand for computing power has been created by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the internet of things (IoT) devices, and big data analytics. The data centers that supply this demand have a massive appetite for energy and water, threatening to dramatically raise prices for local residents and to cripple the transition to renewable energy. University of Michigan Professor Ben Green will discuss how data centers impact local environments and economies, particularly in Michigan. He will also discuss some of the emerging political trends around data centers in elections.

Speaker:
Ben Green is an assistant professor in the University of Michigan School of Information and an assistant professor (by courtesy) in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University, with a secondary field in Science, Technology, and Society. Ben studies the ethics and impacts of algorithms, with a focus on algorithmic fairness, human-algorithm interactions, and AI regulation. Through his research, Ben aims to support design and governance practices that prevent algorithmic harms and advance social justice.