Missouri and the World
Massive data centers built to power artificial intelligence are facing growing opposition across the United States, with new polling showing strong public resistance – especially among women.
According to a recent Gallup survey, more than two-thirds of Americans oppose the construction of large data center complexes in their communities, as reported by The 19th. [Read more…] about Americans increasingly oppose AI data centers as environmental concerns grow
Artificial intelligence companies are rapidly expanding voice-cloning technology while lawmakers and regulators struggle to keep pace, raising concerns about consent, fraud and the growing misuse of digitally replicated voices.
A report by journalism nonprofit Proof News found that many publicly available AI voice-cloning services require little more than a checkbox confirmation from users before allowing them to copy someone else’s voice.
The investigation examined eight AI voice-cloning platforms, including services from Eleven Labs, PlayHT, Speechify, LOVO, Veed and Descript. In most cases, users could upload short audio clips and generate realistic voice replicas without any meaningful verification that the person being cloned had actually granted permission. [Read more…] about AI companies are racing ahead of laws designed to protect people’s voices
As artificial intelligence systems continue expanding across the global economy, environmental researchers and analysts are warning that the AI boom may be creating an increasingly serious – and often overlooked – problem: water consumption.
Much of the public discussion surrounding AI infrastructure has focused on electricity demand and carbon emissions. But the giant data centers powering AI systems also require enormous quantities of water to cool servers and generate electricity.
An investigation published by Proof News argues that water usage linked to AI development is rising rapidly as major technology companies race to build larger and more powerful AI systems. [Read more…] about AI’s rapid growth is putting increasing pressure on water supplies
Automation is quietly but steadily transforming the job landscape across Missouri – from advanced manufacturing plants in suburban South County to sheltered workshops in rural communities.
While much of the national debate focuses on whether robots will take people’s jobs, the reality in Missouri is more complex: some roles are being displaced, but others are being created, and entire industries are being reshaped. [Read more…] about How automation is changing jobs in South County and across Missouri
The Information Technology industry includes information sector employment such as software publishers and data processing, as well as professional and technical services such as computer system design, technical consulting, and research and development services.
Information Technology represents 3.9 percent of total private sector employment in Missouri, employing 97,068 workers across 18,277 establishments in 2023.
Employment grew an average of 1.0 percent per year from 2018 to 2023, adding a total of 11,227 jobs. The industries with the greatest employment growth include Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Services; Software Publishers; and Scientific Research and Development Services.
