Staff Reports
Humans First, the conservative group led by Amy Kremer, has announced a Nationwide Day of Protest against AI data centers for July 18. On the surface it looks like a classic grassroots push — flag-waving locals taking on big tech. But recent reporting ties the group’s origin to projects incubated inside the Center for AI Safety and points to early funding from Open Philanthropy (now often framed as Coefficient Giving), which makes the whole “grassroots” label worth a hard second look.
What Humans First says — and what critics say
Humans First calls itself a conservative, grassroots network and lists Amy Kremer as chair. Kremer points to her Tea Party roots and says this is a real fight between elites and everyday Americans over the expansion of AI data centers. Critics, though, have raised their eyebrows. Several reporters traced parts of the campaign back to the Center for AI Safety and said early funding for that ecosystem came from big philanthropic donors linked to Dustin Moskovitz. Those critics call the campaign “astroturf” — grassroots in name, organized by moneyed interests in reality.
Follow the money: CAIS, Open Philanthropy and the messy middle
Public grant records show CAIS received sizable grants from Open Philanthropy / Coefficient Giving, and investigative pieces say some early projects incubated in that network later reappeared under new names, including efforts tied to Humans First. That doesn’t prove the July 18 protest was paid for by a billionaire’s foundation — there’s no public bank transfer naming the event. Still, when a campaign that looks local springs from a hub that took big grants, the question of who’s steering the bus is fair game.
Why this fight over AI data centers matters
Local opposition to data centers has real bite: communities have slowed, paused, or scuttled billions in projects. That’s why a national push matters. If state and local officials think this is a homegrown wave, they’ll treat it differently than if they think outside money is importing a political fight. Conservatives should want transparency: grassroots energy is powerful, but bought “grassroots” is just PR dressed up as populism.
Bottom line — demand transparency, not slogans
If Amy Kremer and Humans First are truly grassroots, they should show the money trail: donor lists, vendor contracts, or nonprofit filings. If they’re independent, disclosure will prove it and silence the skeptics. If they’re tied to CAIS or large philanthropies, voters deserve to know whether this is a local revolt or a well-funded campaign with a different agenda. Either way, conservatives who care about real populism — and about sensible debate over AI infrastructure — should ask for the receipts before they clap along.
