artificial intelligence

Kansas City’s transit authority could become among the first in the nation to use AI-powered cameras on city buses to help strengthen security and more quickly detect banned passengers. But critics worry about privacy and scaring away riders.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority could be one of the first in the nation to add AI-powered facial recognition cameras to its bus fleet this fall. National nonprofits and a KCATA commissioner are concerned about the privacy and security of riders.

The announcement came hours before a Montgomery County anti-data center group released a survey that showed widespread opposition to a planned center there.

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker says revenue from a planned $3 billion data center campus is an opportunity to grow the city. But one resident is concerned that leaders are moving too fast and not weighing the negative impacts on the community and environment.

Missourians from across the state gathered to protest outside of a data center summit in Jefferson City that was not open to the public.

Companies including Amazon and Google are building data centers in Missouri amid a boom in generative artificial intelligence. For residents in many communities, they aren't getting many answers from either the developers or the lawmakers approving the projects.

Panasonic opened its 4.7 million-square foot plant in Kansas in July, but has not reached full capacity after the Trump administration dropped support for green energy and electric vehicles. Now, the company is trying to capitalize on rising demand for data centers.

Massive data centers powering artificial intelligence have sprouted across the country in recent years, drawing opposition for their water consumption. But in rural Kansas, boosters of one project argue that it could represent a huge savings in water use compared to irrigated farming.

Development of large-scale data centers is booming across the Midwest and South. As some communities push back, local and state governments are trying to catch up on how to regulate the new development.

The legislature also failed to pass bills that would restrict transgender rights, regulate artificial intelligence and the opioid-like drug 7-OH and eliminate vehicle safety inspections.

Digital fraud is costing Americans billions. After Patrick Coughlin’s mother was the target of an urgent and emotional fake kidnapping scam, the cybersecurity expert with his brother built a free website to help others identify the red flags of fraud.

Some Kansans are spooked by data centers as the likelihood of the state hosting more big tech facilities is rising. One positive to all the hullabaloo? Heightened civic engagement early in local proceedings.