Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens has pivoted his performance work toward grassroots activism after learning about proposed AI data center construction in communities across the state. Berens began receiving messages from Wisconsin residents last summer detailing plans for a major data center in their neighborhoods, prompting him to investigate the potential impact of the infrastructure on local populations.
Upon reviewing the proposals, Berens said he was shocked by how the data centers would affect residents. Rather than leaving the issue to traditional advocacy groups, he responded with a comedy video posted online. The video detailed the local stakes of AI infrastructure expansion and quickly went viral, introducing the data center opposition to a broader audience.
Since the video’s release, Berens has remained on the frontlines of the fight against data center development in Wisconsin. In a recent video interview with The Guardian’s Carter Sherman for the “Stateside with Kai and Carter” series, Berens discussed how he is using his platform and comedy as tools for community advocacy.
“Nobody’s negotiating for the people here,” Berens told The Guardian, highlighting a perceived gap in how local governments and developers handle AI infrastructure proposals. His campaign illustrates a growing wave of local resistance to AI data centers, as communities push back against the rapid expansion of power and water-intensive facilities.
Carter Sherman’s interview with Berens explores the intersection of entertainment and civic engagement, tracing how a comedian’s viral response evolved into sustained activism against large-scale technology development.