Write a Letter to the Editor: Our Voices Matter More Than Their Billions

“Whoever wins AI wins”—but who pays the price? Write your local editors about what’s at stake for our water, jobs, communities, health, and future. We may not have tech billions, but we have something they can’t buy: our voices.

Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned recently, stating that “neither [OpenAI or Anthropic] is acting responsibly […] They are racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives.”

And how did Trump respond, when asked if the AI industry should slow down and face greater regulation in response to alarming warnings such as the above, coming from the AI researchers and tech executives themselves?

“Whoever wins AI wins.”

But we challenge this:

Who wins when our water supply dries up? And our jobs?
Who wins when our communities have no say about what is built?
Who wins when the cost of utilities rises? And the temperature? With a brewing El Nino?
Who wins when the physical and mental health of our grandkids suffers?
Who wins in the face of an existential threat?

We know at least one group who wins: tech oligarchs who are buying politicians. People like Elon Musk, and Don Jr., who has huge sums invested in AI companies.

These are the questions we should be taking to the ballot box this November. Let’s make some noise while we’re at it and write to our local newspapers.

As seniors, you have a long lens on past technologies and their impacts—including ones that have caused grave harm. We don’t have to go too far back in our collective memory to take stock of what’s been forced upon us: fossil fuel emissions, nuclear weapons, plastics and forever chemicals. Speaking from your personal experience—whether to neighbors, on phonebanks, or via your local newspaper—is something you can do to get your fellow voters out there in droves.

We know well that most Americans, across political parties, oppose AI data centers. Republican candidates are pingponging between their constituents and alignment with the Trump administration. Let’s make sure our electeds answer to us, not their billionaire puppet masters.

Some suggestions for your LTE:

• Write from your own experience and perspective. Personal stories speak to all of us!
• Keep it responsive to a specific story in your local paper. These have the best chance of being published.
• Think about the local decision makers who are likely to read this paper—what do you want them to hear about regulating AI and data centers?
• Make it short and snappy! Try to have at least one memorable line.
• Repetition is key. Root your letter in one important point.
• We know that AI and data centers are a hot topic as the elections get closer! Invite others to vote early and often.
• Write in coordination with others, maybe a grandkid, neighbor, or friend. The more letters on a topic are submitted the more likely it is the newspaper will publish one or two.

P.S. After you write your LTE, post it on social media and remind everyone you know to go vote!

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