In this episode of Gross Domestic Problem, William Glass and Mark Mills explore how the seemingly “weightless” world of AI is colliding with hard physical limits: data centers, power plants, steel, concrete, and permitting. They trace the history of computing and data centers, explain why AI drastically raises energy and infrastructure demand, and argue that the U.S. remains far ahead in both AI models and data center buildout—but risks “Sovietizing” its economy through bad policy, overregulation, and anti-industrial politics. They debunk the idea of a truly post-industrial society, show how private investment in AI infrastructure can drive productivity and help manage America’s massive debt, and emphasize that growth in energy capacity and industrial capability is both technically feasible and essential if the U.S. wants to reap the benefits of the AI boom rather than just invent it for others.
In this episode of Gross Domestic Problem, William Glass and Mark Mills explore how the seemingly “weightless” world of AI is colliding with hard physical limits: data centers, power plants, steel, concrete, and permitting. They trace the history of computing and data centers, explain why AI drastically raises energy and infrastructure demand, and argue that the U.S. remains far ahead in both AI models and data center buildout—but risks “Sovietizing” its economy through bad policy, overregulation, and anti-industrial politics. They debunk the idea of a truly post-industrial society, show how private investment in AI infrastructure can drive productivity and help manage America’s massive debt, and emphasize that growth in energy capacity and industrial capability is both technically feasible and essential if the U.S. wants to reap the benefits of the AI boom rather than just invent it for others.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
Gross Domestic Problem is a podcast from Millennial Debt Foundation focusing on America’s biggest financial crisis. Each episode, we break down how we got here, what happens if we don’t act, and the least painful way forward. There’s no do-nothing solution. Subscribe now at grossdomesticproblem.com and join the conversation.