Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
March 25: Tom Still -- Boom or Doomsday: Why WI Must Come to Grips with the AI Revolution
--submitted by Eric Krieghoff
Tom Still’s presentation, “Boom or Doomsday: Why Wisconsin Must Come to Grips with the AI Revolution,” examined the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its infrastructure impacts. Still, a longtime columnist and former editor with the WI State Journal along with being the former President of the Wisconsin Technology Council (last 23 years), highlighted the new world of AI and the importance of WI leading the way in its continued evolution. AI depends on the development of new, massive hyperscale data centers (3 new ones are being built in WI now) that consume immense energy, require high voltage transmission, and draw heavily on water for cooling, spurring competition for land and power. Emerging cooling and sustainability efforts aim to reduce these strains. While data centers raise concerns about land use, noise, taxes, misinformation, and job disruption, AI’s integration into daily systems is unavoidable. Like past technological revolutions, fear must not prevent Wisconsin from adapting and competing. Some predict an AI market shakeout rather than a full bust, consistent with past tech cycles. The focus should shift to practical “physical AI” with real-world benefits in health care, manufacturing, finance, and transportation. Long-term success requires smart regulation, secure energy, resilient supply chains, and academic expertise.
Guest speaker starts at 18:36 minutes.
March 25: Tom Still -- Boom or Doomsday: Why WI Must Come to Grips with the AI Revolution
--submitted by Eric Krieghoff
Tom Still’s presentation, “Boom or Doomsday: Why Wisconsin Must Come to Grips with the AI Revolution,” examined the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its infrastructure impacts. Still, a longtime columnist and former editor with the WI State Journal along with being the former President of the Wisconsin Technology Council (last 23 years), highlighted the new world of AI and the importance of WI leading the way in its continued evolution. AI depends on the development of new, massive hyperscale data centers (3 new ones are being built in WI now) that consume immense energy, require high voltage transmission, and draw heavily on water for cooling, spurring competition for land and power. Emerging cooling and sustainability efforts aim to reduce these strains. While data centers raise concerns about land use, noise, taxes, misinformation, and job disruption, AI’s integration into daily systems is unavoidable. Like past technological revolutions, fear must not prevent Wisconsin from adapting and competing. Some predict an AI market shakeout rather than a full bust, consistent with past tech cycles. The focus should shift to practical “physical AI” with real-world benefits in health care, manufacturing, finance, and transportation. Long-term success requires smart regulation, secure energy, resilient supply chains, and academic expertise.
Guest speaker starts at 18:36 minutes.
