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Comment by georgemcbay

4 months ago

> the first time I've really thought hard about how big a target data centers would be in any sort of modern peer war

Given the rapid and increasing rise of AI use in actually fighting wars, I suspect data centers won't just be a big target, they will eventually be the #1 priority target. Taking them offline won't just be of interest in terms of economic damage, it will be a direct strategic goal toward militarily winning the conflict.

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georgemcbay

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PaulDavisThe1st  4 months ago

Until it is clear that the use of AI in "actually fighting wars" doesn't put senior military people at risk of never being able to leave their own country again for fear of prosecution for war crimes, I'm not so sure that the "rapid and increasing rise" is going to actually be a thing.

  • georgemcbay  4 months ago

    > Until it is clear that the use of AI in "actually fighting wars" doesn't put senior military people at risk of never being able to leave their own country again for fear of prosecution for war crimes

    I don't believe that's a real concern that the senior military people have anymore. War crimes are legal in 2026. That ship has sailed (and was double tap struck by the US Navy). Nobody is doing anything about it.

    • PaulDavisThe1st  4 months ago

      War crimes are unlikely to be prosecuted within the USA. On this we agree.

      Which is why I specifically mentioned the risk of not being able to leave the country, because I'd be willing to wager a bit more than international prosecutions for war crimes are significantly more likely, and would be occuring in a world that is growing noticeably more "America needs to be taught a lesson" in spirit.

      3 replies →

    • edgyquant  4 months ago

      War crimes have never been anything more than a way the west can punish its enemies. It’s hilarious people think this norm continuing is some refutation of the system as designed.

      6 replies →

  • watwut  4 months ago

    It does not seem like USA, Israel, Iran or Russia cares.

    That being said, if it has meaningful military data on it, then it is a valid target. And that would be their argument.

  • propagandist  4 months ago

    The Hague Invasion Act takes care of that.

    • PaulDavisThe1st  4 months ago

      That would require a future president to choose to use the authorization.

      President Davis The First isn't going to lift a finger to stop the ICC prosecuting former Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and, I suspect, neither would quite a few other potential future presidents.

49287  4 months ago

If they hit AI data centers, 50% of software developers will convert to Islam. :)

  • mothballed  4 months ago

    Most of the world that did convert to Islam, did it out of pragmatism. That goes for Catholicism as well. Though a special part of my heart goes out to the pragmatic Quakers of the early US, who largely seem to have done it just to have a chance to thumb their nose at the government.

quantified  4 months ago

xAI's data centers in space (should they happen) will push the frontier of war firmly overhead too.

  • esseph  4 months ago

    Satellite -> satellite warfare already happens, and may have even been the the cause of a Starlink satellite "exploding" the other day.