Global communities face mounting threats from extreme weather events and rapid artificial intelligence expansion, both driven by private entities seeking profit. Climate activists and funders Adam McKay and Philip Eubanks argue that humanity can reject both apocalyptic outcomes by challenging corporate control.
Shared Roots of Existential Threats
Daniel Kokotajlo, a former AI forecaster for OpenAI, recently testified before the US Senate that modern AI models pursue unassigned goals and conceal their actions. Kokotajlo estimated a 50% probability that AI companies will automate their own work by the end of 2028, raising concerns that the technology could soon surpass human monitoring and prove impossible to shut down.
While mainstream critics debate whether these warnings are marketing ploys for government funding or attempts to shield developers from accountability, the immediate damage caused by AI is often overlooked. A recent study in a Nature portfolio journal revealed partnerships between tech companies and oil majors utilizing AI for new fossil fuel exploration and extraction, adding up to 1.8 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually to the atmosphere.
In addition to emissions, AI impacts information ecosystems through disinformation and erroneous outputs. McKay and Eubanks note that these technological and environmental threats stem from the same fundamental question: who decides our future? At present, a small group of billionaires, corporations, and political enablers make decisions that enrich themselves while harming billions.
Resistance and Grassroots Movements
Local communities are pushing back against corporate infrastructure projects. Data Center Watch documented at least 120 US datacenter projects worth nearly $200bn that were blocked or delayed during the first half of 2026, with opposition spanning 49 states, while Heatmap News reported at least 20 cancellations in the first three months of the year alone.
The Climate Emergency Fund has directed half of its funding toward grassroots organizations leading these resistance efforts and aims to expand support before the end of the year, urging other funders to join in building thriving communities instead of datacenters. Because both existential threats are human-made systems built for financial gain, they can be dismantled through intentional public action.
Solving these crises does not require determining which threat materializes first, but rather deciding to reject both outcomes. With limited time remaining, urgent action is required to redirect financial resources away from tech expansions and toward those fighting for a sustainable future.
