Tech Won't Save Us The UK’s Misguided Embrace of AI Hype w/ James Meadway
Mar 6, 2025
In this engaging discussion, James Meadway, an economist and host of "Macrodose", critiques the UK's Labour Party's infatuation with AI as a path to economic growth. He highlights the dangers of US tech dominance and the potential consequences of neglecting local welfare. Meadway also dissects the unsustainable nature of current economic practices and challenges the illusion of productivity in American tech firms. He advocates for a rethinking of Europe's tech strategies towards collaboration and open-source initiatives for a more equitable future.
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Growth Panic Drives AI Obsession
- The UK government's AI push is driven by desperation for growth and a desire to court US tech and the Trump administration.
- This creates policy choices that prioritize signalling to US firms over domestic economic logic.
Data Centers Deliver Little Local Value
- Hyperscale data centres deliver few local jobs and most profits flow back to foreign owners.
- Massive capital intensity means these investments often add little to UK GDP or employment.
Resource Strain Sparks Local Backlash
- Building many data centres strains local infrastructure like electricity and water, provoking community pushback.
- The UK risks hosepipe bans and droughts by ignoring resource implications of AI growth zones.