FC/OT: Commencement speaker booed after praising AI as the next Industrial Revolution…

PSU Mike

All-American
Jul 28, 2001
4,298
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AI at this point is not an efficient replacement for production code and systems in most applications. Once AI helps write or refine those systems there only needs to be occasional tuning. I have zero doubt that there is and will be over-investment. Add in that many things AI will be used for are essentially zero sum games, and you have little net societal gain.
 

PSU Mike

All-American
Jul 28, 2001
4,298
7,549
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Big news at my current company. I’m guessing I have a 50% chance of being let go in the next 6-12 months (there’s some question why my current division didn’t deliver this). I’m taking serious inquiries about roles in customer and marketing analytics at the senior level (he’s serious, folks).

 

BobPSU92

Heisman
Aug 22, 2001
43,734
35,270
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Big news at my current company. I’m guessing I have a 50% chance of being let go in the next 6-12 months (there’s some question why my current division didn’t deliver this). I’m taking serious inquiries about roles in customer and marketing analytics at the senior level (he’s serious, folks).



That guy is so punchable.
 

WestSideLion

All-American
May 29, 2001
4,900
5,307
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You tell me. The whole point of it is to eliminate jobs.
Tech companies are already rebranding existing roles to ones focused on AI. There are just fewer of those new AI roles needed.

The cumulative effect will be needing fewer humans doing “work.” No way around that.

Where it’s interesting is whether this technology equalizes startup and operating costs, enabling the creation of new small businesses which help offset hits to employment over time.

I use AI at work every day. So much so that I’m now familiar with the phrase “token maxing.” It’s amazing what I can do with Claude Enterprise.

It still needs to be verified, but the tech is already to a point where it’s changed the game.
 

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
12,102
20,107
113
Tech companies are already rebranding existing roles to ones focused on AI. There are just fewer of those new AI roles needed.

The cumulative effect will be needing fewer humans doing “work.” No way around that.

Where it’s interesting is whether this technology equalizes startup and operating costs, enabling the creation of new small businesses which help offset hits to employment over time.

I use AI at work every day. So much so that I’m now familiar with the phrase “token maxing.” It’s amazing what I can do with Claude Enterprise.

It still needs to be verified, but the tech is already to a point where it’s changed the game.

Is there enough fresh water and precious minerals and electricity to sustain this? At what cost? So fewer humans can have meaningful employment? Pass.
 

Bob2022

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2022
21
20
3
I was a graphic designer, used the Adobe suite, and some computer application called Coric was installed, took control of indesign and the graphing applications I used and eliminated my job. Marketing books with charts, graphs and all types of financial review materials were done at the push of a button by some who had no idea what the week before took three to four hours from start to finish. Thank god I was 64 and didn’t have to ride my remaining work years out at Home Depot or Walmart. I guess that universal income thing may be a reality some time in the future. F them.
 

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
12,102
20,107
113
If we put the data centers in space, we won’t have to worry about it. Space will commit the resources required.

🤔

 

HarrisburgDave

All-Conference
Dec 29, 2016
1,203
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We have thousands of acres of abandoned steel plant sites located in Bethlehem, Coatesville, Steelton, Sharon, etc. across the Commonwealth. They all have access to water/power and all the necessary infrastructure available.

If I was the Governor I would call in Mayors, County Commissioners, state legislators and community groups and create a plan to market these industrial sites.

We might not add thousands of jobs like the old days, but we would create real estate taxes and use up brownfield sites that are just sitting there in towns that need the revitalization.

Why is the obvious impossible?

Meanwhile so many complain like the buggy whip, wagon, coal, and canal operators and unions must have back in the day.
 

CFLion

All-Conference
May 11, 2023
413
1,040
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We have thousands of acres of abandoned steel plant sites located in Bethlehem, Coatesville, Steelton, Sharon, etc. across the Commonwealth. They all have access to water/power and all the necessary infrastructure available.

If I was the Governor I would call in Mayors, County Commissioners, state legislators and community groups and create a plan to market these industrial sites.

We might not add thousands of jobs like the old days, but we would create real estate taxes and use up brownfield sites that are just sitting there in towns that need the revitalization.

Why is the obvious impossible?

Meanwhile so many complain like the buggy whip, wagon, coal, and canal operators and unions must have back in the day.
Add Johnstown, Sharon, most of Beaver County to the list. I've looked at several old steel mill sites for this very purpose. Also add in abandoned coal mining sites in coal country.

My team is currently exploring ways to repurpose existing acid mine drainage by extracting rare earth elements, remediating the water, and then utilizing it for data center cooling applications. The Penn State Energy Institute has expressed an interest in working with us on this. We’re also evaluating on-site power generation strategies using natural gas and fuel cells, which can provide highly reliable power with minimal emissions — primarily limited to a relatively small amount of reportable CO₂.

One of the biggest challenges we’re encountering is market adoption and speed-to-market. Many end users — particularly the firms deploying large GPU clusters — are comfortable with traditional grid-supplied power and tend to prefer familiar utility-backed models. In parallel, there is still an education and confidence-building process required with the local communities, financiers and capital partners to gain broader support for alternative infrastructure and energy delivery approaches.

Another issue is connectivity in the more remote areas of PA. I'm working on that also with several fiber providers.
 

BostonNit

All-Conference
Mar 15, 2003
1,131
2,212
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Oh, I am aware of the "revenue" it generates....it's just the people of the community that suffer never see a dime of that "revenue." All they get are outrageous utility fees, sound and environmental pollution, further loss of farmland, and low water pressure. I'm no tree hugger but at some point you gotta draw a line in the sand.
They may not see money directly but any time the tax burden is shifted from residential to commercial, there are theoretical benefits to the taxpayers. Avoidance on residential tax increases. New town resources like fire trucks and playgrounds etc not paid for from the traditional tax levy, etc.

So while I'll agree most of not all ppl will not see the revenue directly, it offsets the amount of residential property taxes needed.
 

STPGopherfan

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2001
32,705
1,628
113
"Greater Cleveland is a healthcare powerhouse and a top draw for healthcare professionals. There is every reason to believe it will continue, with Cleveland Clinic in the midst of a massive capital construction campaign. Its new Neurological Institute alone is a 1-million-square-foot, $1.1 billion facility rising on Carnegie Avenue at East 89th Street."
Yes. The Midwest is best. Some of the nations best care is in the center of the BigTen foot print!
 
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Roar814

Junior
Nov 18, 2025
171
277
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Add Johnstown, Sharon, most of Beaver County to the list. I've looked at several old steel mill sites for this very purpose. Also add in abandoned coal mining sites in coal country.

My team is currently exploring ways to repurpose existing acid mine drainage by extracting rare earth elements, remediating the water, and then utilizing it for data center cooling applications. The Penn State Energy Institute has expressed an interest in working with us on this. We’re also evaluating on-site power generation strategies using natural gas and fuel cells, which can provide highly reliable power with minimal emissions — primarily limited to a relatively small amount of reportable CO₂.

One of the biggest challenges we’re encountering is market adoption and speed-to-market. Many end users — particularly the firms deploying large GPU clusters — are comfortable with traditional grid-supplied power and tend to prefer familiar utility-backed models. In parallel, there is still an education and confidence-building process required with the local communities, financiers and capital partners to gain broader support for alternative infrastructure and energy delivery approaches.

Another issue is connectivity in the more remote areas of PA. I'm working on that also with several fiber providers.
Neat - are you going to be at the PSU data center power event on Friday? I did a few projects with REEs on old mining sites years ago and am now considering dipping my toes into data center site selection/development. Given the insane leadtimes to get equipment/power I'm surprised end users aren't more open to alternative energy models.
 

CFLion

All-Conference
May 11, 2023
413
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Neat - are you going to be at the PSU data center power event on Friday? I did a few projects with REEs on old mining sites years ago and am now considering dipping my toes into data center site selection/development. Given the insane leadtimes to get equipment/power I'm surprised end users aren't more open to alternative energy models.
Hey Roar - No, I'm not going but it sounds like a good event. Friday before Memorial Day didn't work for me. I'm kind of over working with utilities on getting grid power and have primarily reverted to behind the meter generation. BYOP - Bring Your Own Power. Need to find sites near enough to large gas transmission lines OR your own wells. Gas to hydrogen via fuel cells is our primary model, but also open to combustion technologies.
 
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Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
12,102
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Poor Beaver County - first the mills, then frackers, and now data centers (not to mention power plants on the Ohio). Such a pretty area that has and continues to be bled dry.

At least I still have Kendrew’s….