MOCSI

What is MOCSI?

MOCSI is a publicly governed AI compute initiative in Maine. It repurposes underutilized infrastructure to deliver affordable AI services with local ownership of the physical asset and an explicit public-services carveout so benefits flow to Mainers—not distant hyperscalers.

MOCSI runs open, auditable AI models and provides the compute backbone for every service on publicai.us.

What runs on it

Public AI services demonstrate what community-owned compute can deliver:

• Public AI Chat — A general-purpose AI chat for research, learning, and everyday questions—subsidized for Maine users. Open chat
• Permitting assistant — Plain-language guidance on government permits and municipal requirements—so you know what you need before you apply. Get started
• Library kiosk — A shared Public AI workstation for libraries—chat, creative tools, and coding support for patrons in a trusted public sp… Explore program
• Community agents — Pre-deployed agents that work autonomously on behalf of Maine organizations—no need to build your own. Propose an agent

More services—including a statewide Maine AI Dialogue—are in development.

How it's different

Across the United States, municipalities often default to closed, vendor-locked AI services governed outside the public interest—locking in long-term costs and opaque data practices that return little value to residents.

MOCSI addresses this with local or municipal ownership of a physical data-center asset, paired with subsidized access for Maine residents and organizations.

The facility

The MOCSI pilot includes a micro data center (roughly 8–16 GPUs) at an existing brownfield infrastructure site with dark fiber and an interested tenant.

Why Maine

Maine has a history of public and cooperative infrastructure—from town-owned broadband to cooperative ISPs—and a growing awareness that unchecked, vendor-locked AI leaves communities behind.

In Maine, the Lewiston City Council unanimously voted down a proposed AI data center at Bates Mill after significant public outcry. MOCSI offers a different model: smaller scale, local ownership, and explicit community benefit.

Want to brief your local officials? Email us for talking points.

Governance & pilot structure

MOCSI operates under community-based governance with a defined sunset: evaluate, scale, or shut down after 12–18 months.

• Open, auditable AI models
• Subsidized access for Maine residents and companies
• Prepaid, usage-capped access for public-interest use cases
• Transparent evaluation of community benefit

Progress

We have identified an existing brownfield infrastructure site with dark fiber and an interested tenant. We have engaged stakeholders connected to the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), with active involvement from Bernstein Shur and key Maine business leaders. Funding combines MCA's Digital Opportunity Fund with federal and state New Markets Tax Credits.

Support MOCSI

MOCSI needs partners who believe in community-owned compute—not another hyperscaler warehouse.

Partner with us

Local organizations, municipalities, and councils can help anchor MOCSI.