Willie Nelson is concerned by the impact of AI data centres on rural America.
The 93-year-old singer has taken to social media to bemoan the impact of “loud, water thieving, light polluting” data centres in rural areas.
Willie wrote on Instagram: “I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night. And now our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land. The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter). (sic)”
The music icon expressed his concern over the potentially devastating impact that data centres have on the environment.
Willie observed that “all of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland”.
He continued: “The strength of rural America has never come from big industrial footprints. It comes from generations of people, open spaces, local businesses, and a connection to the land. All of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland (where our essential shared-food is grown) and small family farmers’ livelihoods, and not data centers that only destroy the environment around them. (sic)”
Willie also warned of the dangers of giving up “control over necessary resources”.
He said: “Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses. Let’s not allow our own demise or give up control over necessary resources in the U.S. and especially in Abbott.”
Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran previously admitted that he finds AI to be a bit “weird”.
The 35-year-old pop star fears that AI could have a devastating impact on the employment market.
Ed – who is one of the world’s best-selling artists – told Audacy Live: “What I don’t understand about AI is, for the last 60 years, Hollywood movies have been telling you, ‘Don’t do it.’ And now everyone’s doing it. Have you not seen the movies where they kill us all?
“I just don’t know why you need it – if you’re taking a job away from a human being, I think that’s probably a bad thing. The whole point of society is we all do jobs. If everything is done by robots, everybody’s gonna be out of work. I just find AI a bit weird.”