Rebooting Democracy in the Age of AI

Governors from Healey to Shapiro now say data centers need local buy-in, but they haven't said what a community "yes" actually looks like. Since 2024, at least 46 projects representing more than $170 billion have been blocked, withdrawn, or stalled, often because engagement started after the key decisions were made and benefits were whatever developers chose to offer. Deals in West Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania show the terms can be negotiated, but only if states give communities the capacity to take part: early information, independent expertise, and a process that developers can pay for without owning.

At least 46 AI data center projects — more than $170 billion in announced investment — have been blocked, withdrawn, or stalled since 2024 following community opposition. In this week's Reboot piece, Beth Simone Noveck and Deborah Stine argue trust is the infrastructure data centers are missing, and developers can pay for the community conversation without owning it. Rutgers' National AI Opinion Monitor shows why: AI adoption hit 72% in August while worry climbed to 50% and anger to 30%. NYC's Public Advocate has called for an AI bill of rights; the Maldives' Prosecutor General now requires courtroom disclosure of AI use; and The American Prospect reports Anthropic has been running a predictive surveillance system that flagged suspected dissenters to police.

After the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, California's Office of Data and Innovation used Engaged California to gather more than 1,300 resident comments. AI helped turn that input into 19 policy options, which residents then deliberated over and ranked. Jeffery Marino explains how clear ownership, with state agencies, local governments, and community groups acting together with support from the Governor's office, turned those priorities into a five-part recovery action plan.