How Shakespeare’s The Tempest can help readers understand the hidden costs of AI

William Shakespeare’s works, particularly The Tempest, are increasingly interpreted in relation to contemporary issues such as modern psychology, political theory, colonialism, and AI.
AI infrastructure, particularly data centres, mirrors the hidden, distant powers discussed in The Tempest, underscoring control and resource extraction much like colonial practices.
The Mvskoke Technology and Innovation Park proposal highlights the potential environmental and cultural impacts of data centres on Indigenous land, leading to its eventual rejection due to community opposition.
The parallels between The Tempest and AI infrastructure draw attention to the parallels between Prospero’s control and the power dynamics seen in modern AI, which derive labour and data from often underrepresented communities.
The rejection of the data centre proposal by the Mvskoke Nation illustrates that real-world change often requires community pressure rather than goodwill from those in power, highlighting potential for Indigenous control over their digital futures.
The article suggests Off the Rails by Randy Reinholz as an engaging contemporary piece analogous to Shakespearean themes of power, resistance, and cultural survival, focusing on Indigenous Americans navigating colonial control.

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