The AI Backlash Is Getting Stupider. But Also Smarter.
August 19, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readAI Backlash Intensifies as Data Centers Become Political Lightning Rods
The anti-AI conversation is "somehow getting dumber and more productive at the same time." This week captured both sides of that paradox: a Liquid Death commercial featuring former NFL star Jason Kelce mailing urine to data centers went viral, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro—a centrist who just 14 months ago touted $20 billion in Amazon AI infrastructure investment—signed a strict executive order imposing new requirements on data center developers. The tension between performative outrage and genuine policy progress is reshaping the political landscape around AI.
The Revenue Scrutiny Ramping Up
OpenAI and Anthropic are facing increased scrutiny over their reported revenue numbers as both companies approach potential IPOs. OpenAI recently told investors it had surpassed a $40 billion annualized revenue run rate, while Anthropic claimed $65 billion. Both figures initially appeared strong, but skepticism is mounting.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **The Paradox of the Anti-AI Backlash** - The episode frames a central paradox: the anti-AI, anti-data-center movement is getting more meme-driven and performative, yet simultaneously showing signs of more productive, nuanced policy engagement.
- 2 (02:21) **Wall Street Scrutiny Intensifies on OpenAI and Anthropic Revenue** - Reports on OpenAI and Anthropic's revenue numbers spark increased skepticism from analysts and media ahead of potential IPOs.
- 3 (06:16) **OpenAI Discounts Tokens to Win Developer Market Share** - OpenAI announces a 50% price cut on GPT-5.6 token sales via OpenRouter and Vercel Gateway to compete with cheaper models.
- 4 (07:54) **Anthropic Prepares Governance Overhaul for IPO** - The Information reports Anthropic is planning to grant supervoting shares to CEO Dario Amodei and other co-founders to maintain control ahead of an IPO.
- 5 (09:27) **Google Wins Bidding War for Spirit Airlines Corporate Data** - Google pays $1 million in a bankruptcy auction for Spirit Airlines' internal communications data, beating out AI data labeling service Mercor.
- 6 (13:55) **The Anti-Data-Center Backlash Gets Dumber: Memes and Performative Politics** - The host details the rise of populist, meme-driven opposition to data centers, exemplified by a Liquid Death commercial and political ads.
- 7 (16:26) **Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Aggressive Executive Order** - Centrist Governor Shapiro, who previously touted AI investment, signs a strict executive order on data centers, using confrontational language.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
The anti-AI backlash is becoming more meme-driven and politically powerful—but also, in a few important ways, more productive. NLW looks at Liquid Death’s viral Jason Kelce ad, Josh Shapiro’s aggressive new data center rules, and OpenAI’s voluntary training pause to ask whether the AI debate is finally creating room for concrete standards instead of blanket bans.
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