The Confessionals When The Grid Chooses AI Over You | Slingshot Nation
Dec 26, 2025
What happens when AI's appetite for power exceeds our grid's capacity? The discussion dives into the fragility of the power system and the potential for rolling blackouts as data centers grow. With AI becoming integral to daily life, the hosts ponder privacy issues and the societal impacts of constant tech reliance. They explore innovative energy solutions like small modular reactors and discuss the chilling concept of AI becoming a utility. Finally, tips for preparedness in a world increasingly driven by technology are shared, urging listeners to think about their energy future.
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AI Will Become Default In Personal Devices
- Smartphones and built-in AI remove the option to stay unconnected as devices will increasingly require AI to function.
- Tony Merkel warns this will normalize surveillance and make opting out impractical for most people.
Phone Auto-Dialed During A Conversation
- Tony recounts a phone that seemingly listened and auto-dialed a video editor while he discussed production.
- The incident illustrated the hosts' fear that devices already eavesdrop and act on conversations.
Data Centers Demand City-Level Power
- AI data centers consume enormous electricity, rivaling mid-size cities, creating huge grid strain.
- The hosts argue this will force infrastructure upgrades and could cause scheduled 'rolling brownouts'.