Data Vis Dispatch, May 12: Hantavirus, AI inequality, and Burning Man

The boom of AI has significantly increased the value of AI organizations and led to noticeable differences in AI chatbots. However, compromises in data security and increases in the annual power and water usage needed to run data centers are also becoming more of a concern.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised about interlinked investments in AI that could lead to significant losses, and about the influence of Big Tech's lobbying on German politics.

Inequality in AI is also emerging as a common issue, from biases in healthcare to AI chatbots promoting stereotypes and unequal exposure to AI tools.

Visualizations mapping the Hantavirus outbreak illustrate the virus and the events leading to its transmission.

Changes to Trump's tariffs are still ongoing. Meanwhile, the probability of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) winning a majority in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt has been calculated. And in recent years, politics has also influenced the Eurovision Song Contest.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is still affecting oil supplies and has likely led to a large oil slick, a thin layer of oil on the water's surface. The war in Ukraine has also had a significant impact on the heating supplies of residential buildings in Kyiv.

Moving on to money, global events strongly impact supermarket prices, with beef prices in particular rising due to a decline in cattle herd sizes. As for the prediction market, most users end up losing money rather than receiving payouts.

Finally, we conclude this Dispatch with a selection of other interesting topics: similes from popular works of fiction, divorce rates by occupation, and the impressive MOOP map of the 2025 Burning Man clean-up.