NJ Big Data Conference Explores Potential And Pitfalls Of AI

Hayden Fugee and Katie Thorn (South Jersey Climate News)

The New Jersey Big Data Alliance (NJBDA) held its 13th annual symposium at Rowan University in Glassboro, exploring a theme of “building accessible and sustainable AI ecosystems.”

Founded in 2013, NJBDA facilitates collaborations between the state’s tech industry and university partners through research forums and one of the most prominent conferences in the big data and AI space. 

The event featured speakers and panels ranging from ways to achieve trustworthy AI software to those who believe that artificial intelligence represents the “next industrial revolution.” 

“It reflects the growing recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) must be developed within a balanced ecosystem that connects this exciting new technology with responsible data stewardship, resilient infrastructure, and human values,” Stephen K. Burley, president of NJBDA, stated in the panel agenda.

One theme that emerged through many of the sessions was issues with data centers, the massive warehouses of computer servers needed to power the technology. 

Dr. Khalifeh Al Jadda, director of data science at Google, delivered the keynote address and said the industry is struggling to build the needed infrastructure.

“We don’t have enough data centers to meet the demand,” said Al Jadda. “The demand is surpassing the supply.”

Data centers require significant land, energy, and water and have become a growing concern for the public.

Seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of data centers for artificial intelligence in their local area, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Charles Antoine Beyney, the founder and president of DataOne, a data center currently under construction in Vineland, said the notion that these facilities have to be costly sources of pollution was a result of “fake news.”

Beyney claims that DataOne is one of the most energy-efficient data centers in the world and is built on technology that generates its own electricity and is near net zero for emissions.

“Most of the people think that when an AI factory is coming over, they’re gonna bump up the price of the electricity locally, because we’re gonna suck the grid,” said Beyney. “This is true if you are connected to the grid, but if you are not connected to the grid… it means that you are generating your own electrons, and if you are generating your own electrons, you need to do it in a sustainable manner.” 

He also said his project does not rely on local water sources and will consume “one to five swimming pools [of water] per year.”

When asked about recent noise complaints from the local community, Beyney said they are working to address concerns and that the plant only exceeded local ordinances by two decibels.

“We are doing our best, but we are building the place at the same time,” Beyney said. “So, we are trying to mitigate all the sound that we are emitting.”

Outside the conference, the event drew a group of protestors from local community and environmental organizations like Sustain SJ and Food and Water Watch, and Rowan chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. 

Larry Garrity Jr., a member of Sustain SJ who grew up in Buena and has lived in Vineland for the last seven years, questions many of the claims about the data center.

“When that water gets contaminated, they have to put it somewhere,” said Garrity. “My main thing is health concerns, and then with the electric rates going up, and everything becoming more expensive through inflation.” 

When asked about the public’s opposition to data center construction, Al Jadda noted that Maine recently passed a statewide ban on data centers and suggested others may follow suit.

Given all of the challenges, he said the future may be in outer space.

“Elon Musk and [Google] both are aiming for moving data centers into space where there is infinite energy from the sun,” said Al Jadda. “I think the idea of moving into space is to avoid dealing with logistics and regulations on land.”

This story was originally published by South Jersey Climate News through the NJ News Commons.