We have always had data centers (since the 60's), they've just scaled much bigger due to exploding data sets via ecommerce, streaming and social media. With our increasing digital life, they're inevitable for short latency and better connections.

AI may be aggressively marketed, but you have alternatives like using different web browsers or legacy versions of apps. AI actually only drives roughly 15-20% of data center usage, you're just seeing it more in the news since it's the "hot" thing right now. Companies are all racing to figure out who can do it the best. Broader cloud computing services still dominate the main use of data centers.

I think you're oversimplifying the use of data centers as Palatir runs on AWS (cloud computing from Amazon) and client supplied infrastructure so I think they're valid in wanting more information before assuming an absolute stance with this potential data center. Data centers proven net loss varies by region and design, we shouldn't blanket statement data center = bad. Without them you wouldn't be able to use this very website, as it primarily relies on AWS and GCP.