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Maia Woluchem

@mwoluchem.bsky.social
476 followers 398 following 31 posts

Program Director of Trustworthy Infrastructures @datasociety.bsky.social & talking about racial capitalism @ NYU Wagner. Formerly Ford Foundation, MIT DUSP. She/her.

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Reposted by Maia Woluchem
The Syllabus @the-syllabus.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
If current proposals advance, Pennsylvania could see 66 new data centers built, on top of the 71 currently active. But as our hidden gem of the week shows, communities are pushing back. By @mwoluchem.bsky.social et al. at @datasociety.bsky.social buff.ly/aMa3tph
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Mike Rugnetta @mikerugnetta.com · 02/10/2026
Today we put out this episode about data center construction and resistance to it across Pennsylvania. I talk with @mwoluchem.bsky.social + @cellllla.bsky.social about their recent @datasociety.bsky.social report "The AI Factory: Data Centers, Power, and Resistance in Late Industrial Pennsylvania."
neverpo.st
🆕 Never Post! How Do You Stop A Datacenter In Your Town?
Mike chats with Maia Woluchem and Cella Sum – co-authors of The AI Factory: Data Centers, Power, and Resistance in Late Industrial Pennsylvania – about the fight against Data Centers happening across ...
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Community-Centered AI infrastructure Summit is live streaming today! Tune in NOW to see D&S's @mwoluchem.bsky.social's keynote and stay for more on the opportunities, challenges, and governance of AI infrastructure development in Pennsylvania. communityaisummit.org
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
D&S's @mwoluchem.bsky.social describes her team’s research on Pennsylvania’s industrial lineage, the mythmaking that builds on it, and the pushback that defines this moment. “We learned that it takes a lot of work to make an AI factory seem inevitable,” she says. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPgA...
youtube.com
[Video] The AI Factory: Data Centers, Power, and Resistance in Late Industrial Pennsylvania
YouTube video by Data & Society Research Institute
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Livia Garofalo @livgar.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
After two years of work, the AI factory is out! We spent months in Pennsylvania understanding how the "AI race " is landing on communities and how they are fighting back.
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alice e marwick @alicetiara.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I am SO DELIGHTED to announce that our brand new report: The AI Factory: Data Centers, Power, and Resistance in Late Industrial Pennsylvania is out today. datasociety.net/research-lib... TechCrunch has the scoop: techcrunch.com/2026/09/22/e...
techcrunch.com
Everyone can find a reason to dislike data center construction | TechCrunch
Inside two years of fraught AI data center debates in Pennsylvania.
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
“People in Pennsylvania especially have incredible experience with industrial change, have deep lineages of industrial trauma, enough to sniff when things don’t feel right to them,” report coauthor @mwoluchem.bsky.social tells @techcrunch.com. techcrunch.com/2026/09/22/e...
techcrunch.com
Everyone can find a reason to dislike data center construction | TechCrunch
Inside two years of fraught AI data center debates in Pennsylvania.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
This is such an important event - an opportunity for so many different actors to engage on what AI Infrastructure means moving forward in Pennsylvania. Please come join us!
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
There are infinite people to thank, but for now singing praises for the women of Trustworthy Infrastructures (and the babies in utero during this trip): @livgar.bsky.social, @anthrotechana.bsky.social, Joan Mukogosi, and @cellllla.bsky.social. So much more to come in the next few weeks - stay tuned!
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
In it, we trace PA's industrial lineage, follow the mythmaking AI boosters used to build on it, and the many communities that challenged this theft & these expectations. We study what it takes to force an AI factory into being and what it says about America's past and present.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
After 18 months following Pennsylvania's march towards data centers, we're so excited to launch "The AI Factory" at #ClimateWeekNYC, alongside our friends at @pulitzercenter.org, @texastribune.org, and @foodandwater.bsky.social. This process was so full of heart, and we can't wait to share more.
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Livia Garofalo @livgar.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Thank you @melhogan.bsky.social for having me and @cellllla.bsky.social in wonderful company to talk about the research in PA we are doing with @mwoluchem.bsky.social and @anthrotechana.bsky.social at @datasociety.bsky.social!
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
So cool to have our Trustworthy Infrastructures work featured in @19thnews.org alongside such luminaries!
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
📣 New! In seeking to accelerate AI infrastructure projects in PA, efforts that bypass local governance can harm communities. @cellllla.bsky.social & @mwoluchem.bsky.social offer an alternative framework that better aligns state infrastructure goals with local needs. datasociety.net/library/last...
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Alex Hanna @alexhanna.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
PA Sen. McCormick’s wife works for who now? @mwoluchem.bsky.social and @livgar.bsky.social of @datasociety.bsky.social joined us for episode 74 of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000. They discuss their recent piece “Pennsylvania Is Perfect” for @newintermag.bsky.social. newint.org/science-and-...
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Alex Hanna @alexhanna.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
What makes Pennsylvania perfect… @mwoluchem.bsky.social and @livgar.bsky.social of @datasociety.bsky.social on our latest Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 episode, “Data Centers Go Nuclear”. Check out their latest piece in @newint.bsky.social. newint.org/science-and-... (w @emilymbender.bsky.social)
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
So proud of @anthrotechana.bsky.social for organizing this incredible workshop with @dairfutures.bsky.social x @datasociety.bsky.social ! If you're in Portland or on the West Coast, register now!
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The Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute @dairinstitute.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
🎧On the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000...🎧 @mwoluchem.bsky.social and @livgar.bsky.social of @datasociety.bsky.social join @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social to dig into the reality of data center construction. Tune in live: Monday, March 9, noon PT, twitch.tv/dair_institute
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
In @newint.bsky.social, D&S's @mwoluchem.bsky.social and @livgar.bsky.social write about their work tracing the impacts of, and resistance to, the AI industry's development push in Pennsylvania — and introduce us to some of the people living in the thick of it. newint.org/science-and-...
newint.org
'Pennsylvania is perfect'
Tech companies are building enormous data centres and reconfiguring energy infrastructure across the US, all to power the burgeoning AI industry. On a road trip, Maia Woluchem and Livia Garofalo trace...
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Tonight! Moderated by D&S’s @mwoluchem.bsky.social, this conversation will feature legal and built environment experts Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, Sebastián Díaz Howard-Allman, Gillian Graber, and Marina Otero Verzier.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Eager to find even more brilliant, talented, thoughtful, creative people to support this vision. Let it be you! If you’re interested, please apply to join Mayor-elect Mamdani’s administration here: www.transition2025.com/apply
transition2025.com
Apply | Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's Transition Website
We’re building a talented, inclusive, and mission-driven team of public servants dedicated to improving the lives of New Yorkers. If you’re passionate about public service and interested in contributi...
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
I am beyond honored to join Mayor-elect Mamdani’s Transition Committee on Technology and help deliver this incredible vision for a city we all deserve. Genuinely, I also couldn’t more excited to do this alongside so many people I admire and respect so much. www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
cbsnews.com
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announces transition committees
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani​ announced Monday the creation of 17 transition advisory committees made up of more than 400 people.
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Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 18/09/2025
On Lawfare Daily, @tylermcbrien.com spoke to @mwoluchem.bsky.social, @livgar.bsky.social, and Joan Mukogosi from @datasociety.bsky.social about their research trips across Pennsylvania, where they learned about the current and future impacts of the nascent AI data center industry in the state.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
On the road again! Latest dispatch from Three Mile Island from @livgar.bsky.social, Joan Mukogosi and me, this time from outside a Bon Ton.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Commentary today from TI’s brilliant @livgar.bsky.social and many other experts about Meta’s profoundly disturbing chatbot policies and their real human impacts. Essential reflections for any and all of us using the internet
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Grateful to @justinhendrix.bsky.social for facilitating this necessary conversation between @smw.bsky.social, Ryan Gerety, and me on why this AI Action Plan is so dangerous and what we can do about it. Listen/read here:
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MediaJustice @mediajustice.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Trump's new #AIActionPlan threatens to expand the surveillance and criminalization of our people under the guise of “innovation.” We’re breaking down what this means and how we can resist next WEDS, 7/30 at 6PM ET | 3PM PT, bit.ly/our-techfuture
Webinar graphic for our upcoming webinar "Our Tech Future," which is centered on top in bold green text. Under it reads: "A community response webinar to Trump's AI Action Plan." with Trump crossed out stylistically. In the lower lefthand corner of the graphic is a greyed out Trump with the white Chat GPT logo on each eye. A red stylistic element is behind him. On the right is the date of our webinar in the same bold green color: "July 30, 6PM ET." Photo credit of Trump is Getty Images.Our webinar speaker graphic is on top of our pinkish bold background. On the top is our title: Our Tech Future Webinar." Below in bold black letters is "Hosted by." Below this is a picture of our Sr. Movement Building Director, Myaisha Hayes, and our Executive Director, Steven Renderos." Below their titles in the same bold black letters is "Speakers." A headshot follows, with the name and title of Sarah Myers West, Co-Executive Director of AI Now Institute. Finally, below that is "And more..." In the background, there is a picture of community resistance against a data center in Memphis TN.The final graphic for our webinar states in the center. "Join the call to find out who is behind Trump's AI Action Plan?" Trump is stylistically crossed out. In the lower righthand corner shows two composed images of protestors against Elon Musk. Toward the left is the date and final details of our webinar: "July 30, 6PM ET. Register for free." Finally our bit.ly link is below: "bit.ly/our-techfuture"
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
@tamigraph.bsky.social and I get to some mythbusting today about data centers and the supposed future they bring. Long story short: 😬
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Of course, one industry’s decline often begets another’s ascendance, each with their own generational harms. However, in this AI race, PA needs to act more decisively to avoid cementing its own history alongside other global stories of industrial extraction for supposed AI gains.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
You’ll hear more myth-busting in a piece @tamigraph.bsky.social and I are releasing next week. We’ll also soon be publishing more about what we found at Three Mile Island, in Pittsburgh, and across PA.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Though notably imperfect, the steel, coal, & glass industries bore strong local unions, community reinvestment, & a certain type of cohesion. Today’s proposed economic wins primarily benefit private tech companies, militarized infrastructure, and a race for global AI dominance.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
We already know that all such investment in data centers can endanger cities’ right to self-determination, access to water & energy, & betray the meaning of dignified labor. In PA, this AI-centric vision may be extending this already traumatic history of land, labor, and power extraction.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
We have been researching post-industrial PA as it shifts under the weight of this new vision. These cities built the industrial revolution only to be left behind when these sectors crashed. The question for today: Are industrialists using PA again at its own peril? datasociety.net/points/digit...
datasociety.net
Digital Infrastructures, Material Consequences
Members of the Trustworthy Infrastructures team write about their research road trip through Pennsylvania, where they traced the connection from the industrial past to our tech-dominated present.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Today Trump, Sen. McCormick, and industry leaders convened to discuss their plan for AI-forward PA. Upshot: $92 billion will go to data centers, natural gas & nuclear infrastructure, & re-organizing labor around the AI race. DoE Sec. Chris Wright declared: “AI is our second Manhattan Project.”
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Proud of this labor of love and how full circle this process was - beginning as a grateful workshop participant and ending as director of this incredible team. Offering up precious ideas from around the globe on what trust means, with or without the tech that mediates it today. Read here!
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Anita Chan @anitachan.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
JOIN me, @xriskology.bsky.social, @timnitgebru.bsky.social & @mwoluchem.bsky.social for @datasociety.bsky.social 's #PredatoryData event discussion of the 21st C #eugenicsInBigTech and how to resist it. RSVP and join us online tomorrow Thur 4/10 at 1P EasternUS time! datasociety.net/events/resis...
datasociety.net
Resisting Predatory Data
Join Predatory Data author Anita Say Chan, Emile P. Torres, and Timnit Gebru for an online discussion of the 21st century eugenics revival in big tech and how to resist it, moderated by D&S’s Maia Wol...
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Nik Marda @nrmarda.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Over 100 researchers are issuing a statement today that reiterates the scientific consensus that AI can exacerbate bias and discrimination. The last three U.S. Administrations — including the first Trump Administration — and 192 other nations have recognized this basic fact.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Hi Teddy! Great question. Please feel free to shoot us an email at jobs@datasociety.net and it should make its way over. Thanks very much!
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Trustworthy Infrastructures is hiring! Come work with @livgar.bsky.social, Joan Mukogosi, and me, as we look to build out our Nodes & Conduits project. We're really looking forward to getting to know you and your work - please don't hesitate to reach out with any additional questions!
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
April 10 @ 1pm ET: Join "Predatory Data" author @anitachan.bsky.social, @xriskology.bsky.social, @timnitgebru.bsky.social, & @mwoluchem.bsky.social for a discussion of the 21st century eugenics revival in big tech and how to resist it. RSVP and join us online! datasociety.net/events/resis...
A green, yellow, blue and red promotional graphic for the online discussion “Resisting Predatory Data” happening on April 10 at 1pm ET, moderated by Maia Woluchem, with headshots of participants Anita Say Chan, Emile P. Torres, and Timnit Gebru.
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Sasha Costanza-Chock @schock.cc · 27/02/2025
A thread of Save Medicaid actions: @aclu.org action.aclu.org/send-message...
action.aclu.org
Congress: Save Medicaid Now
Politicians are attempting to pass devastating cuts to Medicaid right now and we must act fast. Send a message telling your member of Congress to fight back now.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Lots of things coming up this spring! We're so excited to have @drniajohnson.bsky.social, Ekene Ijeoma, and @followlori.bsky.social in to talk through community confrontations around infrastructure. Registration link below!
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Gabriel Winant @gabrielwinant.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
The only hope for higher ed is the academic labor movement. Join this @higheredlabor.bsky.social call next week to plan our fight us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
us06web.zoom.us
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Fund Don't Freeze: National Higher Education Strategy Call. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Join higher education workers from around the country on 2/13 at 8 PM Eastern / 7 PM Central / 6 PM Mountain / 5 PM Pacific for a national strategy call on the federal attack on higher education and h...
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Andrea Ritchie @dreanyc123.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
It turns out the NY doc indicted for telemedicine abortion care in LA was once MY doctor. Hands down the best I have ever had - I broke down in tears on my 1st visit because I had never received care like that & didn't even know it was possible Pls support her if you can: www.theactgroup.org/donate
theactgroup.org
Donate | The ACT Group
Donate and help us make a difference in access to telemedicine for all
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Many thanks for our friends along the way, including Uncle Johnny, @bobgradeck.bsky.social, @alicetiara.bsky.social, @tamigraph.bsky.socialm the National Museum of Industrial History, the Heinz History Museum, and everyone between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh who left their yard signs up
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Are you doing similar work on this? Organizing around these questions? Just want to be in touch? Please fill out our form at the bottom of this piece or shoot us an email at trust@datasociety.net. We really want to meet you too.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
TI is building work deep in these communities, trying to understand our social ties, our unions, our institutions, and our power, as these companies race to trade our communities for their visions of the technofuture. As much about what oligarchy takes as it is about what we build in return.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
The speculative fiction that tech companies sell is fraying whatever threads of a social contract we have left. Frontline communities of all kinds are bearing the weight of this industry at beyond an extraordinary cost.
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Maia Woluchem @mwoluchem.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
A week after the election, our team took a road trip through Pennsylvania to talk to folks about AI infrastructure taking over their towns. We stopped at Amazon data centers, abandoned electrical plants, Three Mile Island, ate at many hometown diners, and Bethlehem Steel, among many others 1/
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Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
📣 New CFP! On May 8 and 9, we’re hosting an online workshop on the intersection of generative AI technologies and work. Learn more about what we’re looking for and apply by February 7. datasociety.net/announcement...
Photos of a construction worker and office worker at their jobs morph into numbered blocks, representing the ways technology can reduce a person and their work.
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