Safety Wars August 19, 2026 AI Data Centers, Flock Cameras, and the War on Common Sense

Safety Wars 8-19-2026 AI Data Centers, Flock Cameras, and the War on Common Sense

Summary:

This episode of Safety Wars covers a wide-ranging mix of safety culture, tech policy, and current events. Jim opens with disclaimers and housekeeping before discussing how to handle difficult or psychopathic personalities in the workplace—stressing immediate, professional responses rather than escalating to HR.

The show moves into news headlines: Iran weighing strikes on U.S. assets in Europe, Harry and Meghan's return to the UK, a Meta whistleblower alleging child safety was deprioritized, and a breakthrough personalized cancer vaccine from Moderna and Merck.

Jim then pivots to AI's societal impact—warning that AI erodes critical thinking and writing skills, citing an MIT study on reduced brain activity among AI-assisted writers. He critiques tech companies' community "buy-in" campaigns for data centers, drawing a skeptical parallel to Atlantic City's failed casino jobs promises, questioning whether local Georgia residents actually have the skills for promised AI jobs, and predicting AI will ultimately replace many jobs, including his own field of safety.

The episode closes with an investigation into Flock Safety's AI-powered surveillance cameras, controversial for tracking individuals beyond license plates, and a call for public transparency and reciprocal oversight of police. He wraps with news on a former Fauci aide's guilty plea and a new FDA commissioner nominee.

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www.safetywars.com.  www.jamespoesl.com

https://www.nfpa.org/Education-and-Research/Wildfire/Firewise-USA

Music:

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Falling, 25821615, Eric B.