The headlines placed by tech lobbyists and CEOs are everywhere: Pennsylvania could be a leader in the “AI revolution.” But as politicians, big tech, and developers race to build massive data centers and embed AI into everyday government functions, we need to ask: Who is this future being built for, and at what cost?
AI is already shaping our city in ways that are hard to see, and it’s time to make them visible, so WE are in control. Here at People’s Tech, we worked with community groups across the city to found Philly Tech Justice to fight for a world where tech helps us thrive, instead of harming us.
Behind the shiny headlines are real impacts: AI tools are inflating rents, tracking our data, costing taxpayers millions, and expanding surveillance—especially against immigrants and communities of color. The data centers powering these tools are often foisted on communities without their consent, and demand huge amounts of water and energy, driving up our utility bills.
But that future isn’t inevitable. We have the power to demand transparency, accountability, and public oversight of AI in city government, and name what we need the city to invest in instead of tech tools that hurt our communities. When we know the harm AI is doing now, we can start to envision a world where AI helps our communities, rather than hurts. That work begins with information.
The future of AI isn’t just about tech—it’s about power, profit, justice, and the future of our city.
Join the webinar on September 17, and stay tuned for more as we unpack how tech—and the billionaires behind it—are impacting our communities, and what you can do to make sure tech benefits the people, not billionaires.