AI’s Looming Impact: Energy Costs, Workplace Bias and Digital Racism

From Pennsylvania’s power grid to hiring decisions and social media, artificial intelligence is raising new concerns about its impact on everyday life. Three recent WURD conversations explored different consequences of AI’s rapid expansion.

• Belle Sherwood, clean energy advocate with PennEnvironment, joined P.O.C. on EcoWURD to discuss how AI data centers are straining Pennsylvania’s power grid, increasing pollution and driving calls for a two-year moratorium.
• Future Cain, founder of Future of SEL, joined Tiffany Bacon on The Midday Break Room to discuss how AI-powered hiring systems could reinforce racial bias, particularly against Black women.
• Dr. Sienna Davis, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, joined Tech Life Steph on Life in Tech to discuss how AI-generated Black identities are being used to spread stereotypes, manipulate audiences and sell products.