The future of AI and its new hub seems to be the great state of Texas. Data centers are being built all over the state, including right here in the Texas Panhandle. Project Matadaor, which is expected to be one of the largest data centers in Texas and possibly the world, is being built outside of Amarillo. The second-largest in Texas, the GW Ranch in Pecos County, is also under construction. El Paso is getting a Meta data center, and Abilene’s Crusoe is already open and running.
Texas Becomes a Hotspot for AI Data Centers
We all use AI in some way these days. Whether for a recipe, a simple question, or a set of blueprints, AI has made our lives easier. It is also making our lives a lot more difficult when it comes to securing and keeping jobs.
How AI Is Changing Jobs Across Texas
This isn’t about robots replacing workers overnight; AI is making decisions that you don’t know about. Right now, AI is being used in hiring, scheduling, and logistics for many companies. People all over the area are applying for hundreds of jobs and never hear back from potential employers. One reason may be that AI is scanning applications and resumes, and if it flags something as off, it filters it out, and no human ever sees it.
Texas has become a hotspot for AI. The state offers cheap land, access to energy, and it is a central location. These are the things AI companies look for when deciding where to build.
We keep being told that these AI centers will bring jobs, but will they bring more jobs than they will eventually take away?
Amarillo Jobs at Risk from Automation
Here in Amarillo, many jobs are in agriculture, energy, healthcare, and education. Which one of these is more vulnerable to AI? A new lard refinery is being built in Amarillo and is expected to bring 30-60 jobs to a 12,000 ft facility. That suggests most of the day-to-day operations will be automated.
Which Jobs in Texas Are Most Vulnerable to AI?
According to Culture Map, Texas has the second-highest number of at-risk jobs in the country when it comes to being quietly replaced by AI. Those jobs at risk include retail, fast food, customer service reps, stockers, and even admin positions…