A UK man, James Howells, is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to locate a hard drive containing £227m worth of Bitcoin that he mistakenly discarded a decade ago. Despite the refuse being worth £4m at the time of disposal, its value has since skyrocketed. Howells is convinced that the hard drive is buried in a disused section of a landfill in Newport, and he has proposed using AI scanning systems to identify and retrieve it.
Legal Battle Over Landfill Excavation
Newport council has repeatedly denied Howells’ requests to excavate the dump site due to environmental concerns. The council contends that such an operation would have a significant negative environmental impact. The issue has led to a legal standoff, with Howells vowing to pursue legal action, including appealing to the Supreme Court if necessary. The council maintains that excavation is not viable under its environmental permit.
“I’ve narrowed down the area where I need to dig, based on the amount of time that’s gone by ”
Ethical and Legal Implications of AI Technology in Landfill Retrieval
Howells is committed to donating 25% of any recovered funds, potentially amounting to £50m, to local community projects. Despite facing opposition from the council, he has assembled a team of experts, including barristers and environmental specialists, to carry out the retrieval operation at the highest standards. The contentious pursuit of the lost Bitcoin fortune has drawn widespread attention and reignited the debate about the potential impact of AI and cryptocurrency on environmental and legal considerations.
Read more here at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67297013
