Burlison defends AI, says data centers deserve a fair look

Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison said communities should evaluate proposed data centers based on their actual demands on the environment, instead of allowing fears about artificial intelligence to drive local policy decisions.

The Missouri Republican appeared on the Newstalk KZRG Morning Newswatch to discuss data center development, AI and his proposed overhaul of federal technology purchasing rules.

Burlison said a recent congressional subcommittee roundtable on AI and China included industry experts and focused partly on growing concerns about data center development.

He said artificial intelligence is already becoming part of the economy and that the debate should focus on how the technology can be used responsibly rather than whether it can be stopped.

“AI is here, and the question is how do we leverage it?” Burlison asked.

Burlison said opposition to data centers can sometimes be fueled by uncertainty about AI rather than the measurable effects of a proposed development. He urged residents and local officials to separate broader concerns about the technology from questions about whether an individual project is appropriate for a community.

He said data centers should be reviewed like manufacturing plants, warehouses and other businesses, with attention paid to how much electricity they would consume and whether the local power grid could handle the additional demand.

Water use should also be examined on a project-by-project basis, Burlison said. Some data centers use water-based cooling systems to reduce electricity costs, while others use cooling technology that requires little or no water.

Communities should determine exactly how much water a proposed facility would need and whether local supplies could support it, he said, rather than assuming every data center operates the same way.

Burlison said local officials should also consider potential truck traffic, road wear, noise and environmental effects. Those practical concerns, he said, should be addressed regardless of what type of business is seeking to locate in a community.

“Whether it’s a data center or any other business, I think we should approach them all the same way,” Burlison said.

He argued that local governments should remain neutral about the type of legal business being proposed while determining whether the necessary infrastructure and resources are available.

Burlison warned against policies that attempt to determine which industries should be allowed to operate based primarily on fear or political pressure. He described that approach as central planning that conflicts with free-market principles.

The congressman also emphasized what he considers the potential benefits of AI. He compared its development to the way machinery powered by fossil fuels allowed individuals to complete physical work that once required large groups of laborers.

AI could have a similar effect on intellectual work, Burlison said, by giving ordinary people access to services and expertise that were previously available mainly to wealthy individuals and large companies.

He said someone who cannot afford a team of software developers, tax specialists or other highly trained professionals may eventually be able to use AI tools to perform some of the same tasks.

Burlison predicted that wider access to those tools could create new economic opportunities and improve productivity during the next decade.

During the interview, Burlison also discussed the FIT Procurement Act, legislation he sponsored to streamline how federal agencies purchase lower-cost software and cloud-based technology.

Burlison said the current federal procurement system was designed for major technology acquisitions and often forces agencies to follow lengthy procedures even when buying relatively inexpensive software, applications or cloud licenses.

“The federal government's process is really a horrible process,” Burlison said.

The bill would establish a simplified process for software purchases that fall below certain spending thresholds. It would also make it easier for vendors to provide training and technical support, including training involving artificial intelligence.

Burlison, who previously worked in the health care software industry, said federal procurement rules were created during an era when agencies purchased large computer systems from companies such as IBM.

Modern technology purchases are often subscription-based and delivered through the cloud, he said, reducing the need for the extensive contracting process associated with large hardware and infrastructure projects.

Burlison said the legislation would reduce delays, lower administrative costs and help smaller government agencies obtain technology that better fits their needs.

He said debates over federal spending often focus on how much money the government spends without examining how agencies select vendors and determine which products taxpayers ultimately fund.

Modernizing that decision-making process, Burlison said, could reduce waste while allowing agencies to adopt useful technology more quickly.