Karen Hao in conversation with Naomi Klein on how AI is transforming the world and concentrating power in the hands of a few.
Speculation on the revolutionary benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading to fast-tracked natural resource extraction and ballooning financial investment into data centre infrastructure. The growth of this emerging industry is outpacing the capacity for research and regulation of AI’s environmental, social, and political impacts. This research stream focuses on understanding the myriad socio-economic and justice implications of unfettered AI development.
While AI has promising applications, the negative consequences of current implementation trajectories need to be understood. Environmental impacts include the extraction of rare -earth minerals for production of computer chips, and the use of water and energy to power and cool data centres. Social impacts of AI include the dissolution of trust due to disinformation, degradation of critical thinking skills, and impacts on mental health. Political impacts include the consolidation of wealth and power, use of AI in surveillance and militarism, and the control of data and information resources.
We ask: what are the risks associated with current AI implementation? How can regulatory processes keep up with the pace of AI? How do different AI uses impact environmental, social, and political dimensions?
Topics in this research stream:
- AI and natural resource extraction
- Data centre water and energy use
- Rise of techno-oligarchy
- AI and the future of labour
- Militarism and surveillance
Project spotlights
Empire of AI: Karen Hao In Conversation with Naomi Klein
AI is transforming the world at breakneck speed and concentrating extraordinary power in the hands of a few. In the New York Times bestseller Empire of AI, Silicon Valley engineer-turned-journalist Karen Hao draws from years of rare insider access to OpenAI and reporting across five continents. She offers a gripping look at how the accelerating AI revolution is reshaping society and concentrating economic and political power in the hands of a few companies. “The way we develop technology is now fundamentally broken,” Hao says. “But I truly believe that we can fix it.”
For this talk, held on March 12, 2026, acclaimed author and journalist Karen Hao was joined by Naomi Klein, the award-winning author, associate professor, and founding co-director of the Centre for Climate Justice.
AI and the Politics of Extraction Panel
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has brought renewed urgency to questions of climate justice. The massive resource extraction required to build and power data centre infrastructure is having profound impacts on local communities and ecosystems. At the same time, the large-scale monetization of data raises complex political and ethical issues, with far-reaching consequences for democracy, human rights, and the environment.
In this public discussion that took place on November 22nd 2025, Professors Naomi Klein (UBC-V), Stephanie Dick (SFU), Wendy Wong (UBC-O) and Hamish van der Ven (UBC-V) explored questions around the implications of AI for climate justice, the governance of AI and protection of users, and which beneficial models of AI could and should be explored. Moderated by Professor Carol Liao (UBC-V).