NEWPORT — Fort Adams will be converted into a major artificial intelligence data center and entertainment campus under a newly announced redevelopment partnership between state officials and tech infrastructure firm Bastion AI, according to plans unveiled Tuesday.
Officials described the historic fort’s massive granite walls, underground tunnels, and compartmentalized military design as “uniquely optimized for high-density compute operations.”
“There’s also increasing anti-AI sentiment around the country,” he said. “If you need to protect critical computing infrastructure, frankly, what’s better than a fort?”
Under the proposal, the fort’s casemates and interior corridors will be retrofitted with server racks and liquid-cooling systems powered by seawater from Narragansett Bay. Consultants described the structure as offering “exceptional thermal stability” and “remarkable resilience against both land and maritime threats.”
The project would also dramatically reshape Newport’s festival scene.
The Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals would be phased out and replaced with the “Newport Prompt Festival,” a four-day AI-generated music experience featuring live prompt engineering performances, competitive prompt battles, adaptive algorithmic concerts, and dancing humanoid robots.
Festival organizers say audiences will watch prompt engineers perform live on stage as giant screens display prompts being used to generate songs in real time. “The close proximity to massive computing power will allow for lower-latency music generation and significantly more immersive creative experiences,” Calabro explained.
When asked whether the changes risk erasing the festivals’ rich musical legacy, Calabro dismissed those concerns.
“AI will be used to remix and reimagine the music of legends like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and many others for an entirely new generation. And don’t worry, Del’s Lemonade will still be available.”