Video summary

New “Privacy-First” Phones & Computers Give The Middle Finger To Big Tech! w/ Hakeem Anwar

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary: “Privacy-first” computing and resisting Big Tech reliance

Core theme: Reduce dependence on surveillance platforms

  • The guest, Hakeem Anwar, argues that modern phones and laptops function as part of a broader data-center and surveillance ecosystem that most consumers can’t easily opt out of.
  • The proposed fix is to reduce reliance on mainstream platforms (e.g., Google/Apple) by adopting privacy-focused, open-source, self-hostable software and privacy-first devices.

1) AI data center power/water analysis (“AI data center map”)

  • A major concern is the rapidly expanding AI hyperscale data-center buildout, which he claims the public underestimates.
  • He describes creating an “AI data center map” to catalog US data centers, referencing:
    • datacentermap.org
  • Key claims include:
    • In 2025, he states six major companies—OpenAI, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta—plus “everyone else” drove $2.5T in data center spending (framed as speculation/greed).
    • He claims the map shows 384 hyperscalers already built, consuming about 10% of total US power demand (a “low floor”).
    • He claims ~300 more data centers are planned.
    • He forecasts AI power usage could quadruple, reaching ~40% of US power supply.
  • He challenges the idea that hyperscalers will solve power shortages by building their own power plants:
    • He says it’s “impossible” to offset demand at the scale required, citing grid constraints, interconnection limits, backups, and rising wholesale costs.

Cooling and water stress

  • Hyperscale AI cooling reportedly uses large amounts of water:
    • Heat transfer → cooling towers → evaporation.
  • He criticizes limited transparency around water metering:
    • Suggests many operators may not fully meter and publicly report water use.
    • Uses Google’s transparency report as an example where water withdrawal may rely on estimates when meter data is unavailable, limiting independent verification.
  • He references water stress maps:
    • Red indicates severe stress; yellow indicates milder stress.
    • He frames location-based environmental impacts as an important factor.

2) Proposed solution: stop feeding Big Tech with your data

  • He frames the solution as personal choice + awareness.
  • He explicitly states he does not advocate violence or sabotage.
  • Instead, he emphasizes migrating toward privacy-respecting alternatives.
  • He argues that people indirectly “justify” data centers by continuing to use Big Tech services that embed AI.
  • He claims mainstream AI features can’t be easily disabled on conventional devices, citing:
    • Google Gemini on Android
    • Apple Intelligence on iPhones

3) Product pitch: “Above” phone/computer (privacy-first device + open-source ecosystem)

Positioning

  • Local-first: designed to reduce reliance on Big Tech cloud services.
  • Open-source, self-hostable software (even if hosted on the provider’s infrastructure, users can take it “home”).
  • Intended to reduce ads and trackers compared with mainstream app ecosystems.

App access model

  • The device offers alternative apps instead of defaulting to mainstream Google/Apple services (example store: Aurora Store).
  • He claims these alternative apps are open source and lack the “hidden third-party companies/trackers” he says commonly appear in mainstream apps.

YouTube viewing approach

  • He suggests a different approach than the official YouTube app to reduce ads/tracking.
  • He notes official YouTube app support may require extra steps/add-ons, and that by default it may not work.

4) “Above search”: meta-search with selectable engines + ad filtering

  • He demonstrates an Above meta search engine where users can choose which search engines to query, including:
    • Brave
    • DuckDuckGo
    • Moje / “Moi”
    • Pre-Search
  • He claims it filters out ads and is designed to be private without user tracking.

5) Messaging/security: XMPP/XMPPP-style encrypted protocol + compatibility

  • He presents an encrypted messaging service described as a software/chat protocol (“XMPPP”).
  • Intended as a more private alternative to Telegram/WhatsApp.
  • Features mentioned:
    • end-to-end encrypted messaging
    • sending images
    • voice messages
  • Cross-platform note:
    • Recipients can use iPhones if they adopt the same service (requires an “account”).
  • Phone-number capability:
    • claims there’s a bridge to the phone network and users can choose a US/Canada number.
    • pricing mentioned: $5/month for international texts/calls and voicemail/group texts
    • calling reportedly happens via an app dialer rather than the standard phone app

6) Addressing tradeoffs: “downside” vs iMessage/FaceTime

  • A key compromise he highlights:
    • switching away from iPhones may mean giving up FaceTime and iMessage.
  • He says Above provides alternatives using its encrypted messaging approach.

7) Independence stance: “Will Big Tech buy you out?”

  • He addresses acquisition risk:
    • He says there are no outside investors with voting rights and no ownership dilution plan.
    • He claims the goal is to stay independent.
  • Funding/origin claim:
    • Above allegedly began with $3,000 in 2021.
  • He also expresses (in sentiment and in a stated figure) that he wouldn’t accept a hypothetical buyout offer.

Main speakers / sources (as mentioned)

  • Hakeem Anoir / Hakeem Anwar — founder of Above Agency, discusses privacy-first devices and the AI data center map; linked to the #takeback tech initiative.
  • Jimmy (Jimmy Door) — host.

External references/entities mentioned

  • Wired article — referenced in connection with FBI/local law enforcement suspicion of anti-A activists.
  • MIT — referenced regarding China data center vacancy rates.
  • Google transparency report — used as an example for water metering/estimation claims.
  • Hyperscalers named: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Apple (and OpenAI).
  • “Kevin Oli / Kevin Olri” — mentioned as a data-center-related figure; exact identity unclear from subtitles.
  • FBI / US Fusion Centers — mentioned in a law-enforcement context.

Original video