The AI & Data Center Thread

[BabyBoomer50s]

Sounds like a classic bubble. Lots of wishful thinking about future gains, but no evidence of rising demand.

There was an internet bubble where VCs were pouring ridiculous money into dot coms with stupid business models. The internet did yield huge gains in productivity, but there was a period where valuations were way out of whack.

Same could and probably will happen with AI. It will drive productivity and there will be big winners along the way, but there will be plenty of big losers as well.

People with S&P funds in their 401Ks would be wise to try and diversify if they can so that they’re not overweighted in big tech.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Tech Giants Sign On To Ottawa’s Data Centre Development Rules​

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and Meta are among the signatories announced Thursday by Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon and Federation of Canadian Municipalities president Tim Tierney.

https://www.connectcre.ca/stories/tech-giants-sign-on-to-ottawas-data-centre-development-rules/

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

How to Build Data Centers People Won’t Hate
The companies racing to build AI factories are rethinking their plans in order to win back the trust of Americans



https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/data-ce...2390f?st=ZbbrDt&reflink=article_copyURL_share

 

[DeluxAuto]

Really feels like we're living in a bastardized mashup of MAD Magazine and a Twilight Zone marathon.

 

[Lazaran]

Really feels like we're living in a bastardized mashup of MAD Magazine and a Twilight Zone marathon.


View attachment 2677955

Today’s “Washington Week” episode on PBS was dedicated to AI and data centers.

It’s a worthwhile watch:

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Today’s “Washington Week” episode on PBS was dedicated to AI and data centers.

It’s a worthwhile watch:

It is a worthwhile watch. Good discussion about public apprehension and politics around AI and data centers, the enormous risks and enormous benefits associated with AI, and discusses the importance of regulation and global governance.

Data center development is rapidly occurring around the world. It’s not going to let up anytime soon.

 

[Rotadom]

They don't even use energy!




This is why we'll fail.

 

[Lazaran]

It is a worthwhile watch. Good discussion about public apprehension and politics around AI and data centers, the enormous risks and enormous benefits associated with AI, and discusses the importance of regulation and global governance.

Data center development is rapidly occurring around the world. It’s not going to let up anytime soon.

My takeaway from the episode:

• The guy who did the research concluded that AI is as dangerous as Nuclear weapons - even without factoring in AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis.

• The Doomsday Clock was almost at midnight BEFORE the rise / risk of AI itself - not to mention AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis).

• We now have a combination / confluence of Nuclear weapons (and drones), AI, and anthropogenic climate change - and ALL are getting more dangerous due to proliferation & a “nexus of evil”..

• Where is The Doomsday Clock NOW???



Side observation:

BabyBoozer (a POS MAGAt) supports "DEREGULATION!!!" and "SMALL GOVERNMENT!!!" non-intervention, but is seen here advocating for "REGULATION!!!" and "BIG GOVERNMENT!!!" intervention…

weird…



BabyBoozer



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

My takeaway from the episode:

• The guy who did the research concluded that AI is as dangerous as Nuclear weapons - even without factoring in AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis.

• The Doomsday Clock was almost at midnight BEFORE the rise / risk of AI itself - not to mention AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis).

• We now have a combination / confluence of Nuclear weapons (and drones), AI, and anthropogenic climate change - and ALL are getting more dangerous due to proliferation & a “nexus of evil”..

• Where is The Doomsday Clock NOW???



Side observation:

BabyBoozer (a POS MAGAt) supports "DEREGULATION!!!" and "SMALL GOVERNMENT!!!" non-intervention, but is seen here advocating for "REGULATION!!!" and "BIG GOVERNMENT!!!" intervention…

weird…



BabyBoozer



We. Told. Them. So.

The Atlantic journalist did articulate real and terrifying risks that come with AI. He also spoke of great potential of the technology. And his conclusion was that without international regulatory guardrails, very bad things could happen.

Your take aways indicate that AI doomsday scenarios are inevitable.

Are you resigned to Armageddon? Or do you believe that AI can be cancelled?

 

[Lazaran]

The Atlantic journalist did articulate real and terrifying risks that come with AI. He also spoke of great potential of the technology. And his conclusion was that without international regulatory guardrails, very bad things could happen.

Your take aways indicate that AI doomsday scenarios are inevitable.

Are you resigned to Armageddon? Or do you believe that AI can be cancelled?

My takeaway from the episode:

• The guy who did the research concluded that AI is as dangerous as Nuclear weapons - even without factoring in AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis.

• The Doomsday Clock was almost at midnight BEFORE the rise / risk of AI itself - not to mention AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis).

• We now have a combination / confluence of Nuclear weapons (and drones), AI, and anthropogenic climate change - and ALL are getting more dangerous due to proliferation & a “nexus of evil”..

• Where is The Doomsday Clock NOW???



Side observation:

BabyBoozer (a POS MAGAt) supports "DEREGULATION!!!" and "SMALL GOVERNMENT!!!" non-intervention, but is seen here advocating for "REGULATION!!!" and "BIG GOVERNMENT!!!" intervention…

weird…



BabyBoozer



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

My takeaway from the episode:

• The guy who did the research concluded that AI is as dangerous as Nuclear weapons - even without factoring in AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis.

• The Doomsday Clock was almost at midnight BEFORE the rise / risk of AI itself - not to mention AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis).

• We now have a combination / confluence of Nuclear weapons (and drones), AI, and anthropogenic climate change - and ALL are getting more dangerous due to proliferation & a “nexus of evil”..

• Where is The Doomsday Clock NOW???

Lazaran’s white flag flying high this week!

 

[Lazaran]

Lazaran’s white flag flying high this week!

My takeaway from the episode:

• The guy who did the research concluded that AI is as dangerous as Nuclear weapons - even without factoring in AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis.

• The Doomsday Clock was almost at midnight BEFORE the rise / risk of AI itself - not to mention AI data centers’ potentially MASSIVE contribution to the exacerbation of the anthropogenic climate change crisis).

• We now have a combination / confluence of Nuclear weapons (and drones), AI, and anthropogenic climate change - and ALL are getting more dangerous due to proliferation & a “nexus of evil”..

• Where is The Doomsday Clock NOW???



Side observation:

BabyBoozer (a POS MAGAt) supports "DEREGULATION!!!" and "SMALL GOVERNMENT!!!" non-intervention, but is seen here advocating for "REGULATION!!!" and "BIG GOVERNMENT!!!" intervention…

weird…



BabyBoozer



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[Bray123]

 

[Bangley]

I live in a drought-stricken area of Texas. At the moment, a data center is being planned in nearby Carson County. Many people in the local population, especially farmers, are voicing concerns about how the data center's water usage could be a detriment to an agriculture-dependent area that habitually experiences drought.
BUT...
Many of the people voicing these concerns are Republican voters (Red State) and most of them conveniently leave out the fact that this data center is going to be named The Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus.

 

[HisArpy]

I live in a drought-stricken area of Texas. At the moment, a data center is being planned in nearby Carson County. Many people in the local population, especially farmers, are voicing concerns about how the data center's water usage could be a detriment to an agriculture-dependent area that habitually experiences drought.
BUT...
Many of the people voicing these concerns are Republican voters (Red State) and most of them conveniently leave out the fact that this data center is going to be named The Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus.

Texas has a problem in that it is being severely mismanaged as to its natural resources.

Water for example is being so mismanaged that some cities have turned off the municipal water supply until the State gives them money which they then spend on bonuses and perks instead of the necessary infrastructure upgrades and expansions that are required.

Of course, being the brother in law of the city leadership turns out to be very lucrative in those situations.

When it comes to water, Texas should look at how the UK manages its waterways, impounds, and flooding. Should Texas turn the trickle sized rivers downstream from the bass lakes into canals with locks and transits between waterways there wouldn't be any drought because there would be massive amounts of stored water already available.

This would also eliminate the problem of dams releasing floodwaters into hurricane battered areas and exacerbating the flooding problem that is already there. Or allowing water to rush unchecked downstream to kill 29 girls in a scout camp in the middle of the night.

But, instead of doing any of that Texas has turned the entire State in what amounts to being a "company town." Because that pays a LOT of money to those in charge while the people get nothing, not even effective management of state resources.

 

[Bangley]

Texas has a problem in that it is being severely mismanaged as to its natural resources.

Water for example is being so mismanaged that some cities have turned off the municipal water supply until the State gives them money which they then spend on bonuses and perks instead of the necessary infrastructure upgrades and expansions that are required.

Of course, being the brother in law of the city leadership turns out to be very lucrative in those situations.

When it comes to water, Texas should look at how the UK manages its waterways, impounds, and flooding. Should Texas turn the trickle sized rivers downstream from the bass lakes into canals with locks and transits between waterways there wouldn't be any drought because there would be massive amounts of stored water already available.

This would also eliminate the problem of dams releasing floodwaters into hurricane battered areas and exacerbating the flooding problem that is already there. Or allowing water to rush unchecked downstream to kill 29 girls in a scout camp in the middle of the night.

But, instead of doing any of that Texas has turned the entire State in what amounts to being a "company town." Because that pays a LOT of money to those in charge while the people get nothing, not even effective management of state resources.

Damn well said!

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

To meet the growing power demands of generative AI data centers, Schneider Electric engineers worked closely with Nvidia to devise a “grid-to-chip” approach that combines power delivery, liquid cooling, and software monitoring in one integrated design. The idea stemmed from recognition that no existing energy and cooling system could address the needs of new, ultrapowerful artificial intelligence chips—and the solution required a new collaboration between teams focusing on different aspects of the problem. The grid-to-chip technique is now being applied to the design and construction of the world’s largest AI data centers.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91592000/schneider-electric-best-workplaces-for-innovators-2026

 

[Lazaran]

View attachment 2679191
To meet the growing power demands of generative AI data centers, Schneider Electric engineers worked closely with Nvidia to devise a “grid-to-chip” approach that combines power delivery, liquid cooling, and software monitoring in one integrated design. The idea stemmed from recognition that no existing energy and cooling system could address the needs of new, ultrapowerful artificial intelligence chips—and the solution required a new collaboration between teams focusing on different aspects of the problem. The grid-to-chip technique is now being applied to the design and construction of the world’s largest AI data centers.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91592000/schneider-electric-best-workplaces-for-innovators-2026

Yes, BabyBoozer: MORE investment dollars for AI / AI data centers that will have to be recouped… "somehow"… or NOT…



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[icanhelp1]

Texas has a problem in that it is being severely mismanaged as to its natural resources.

Water for example is being so mismanaged that some cities have turned off the municipal water supply until the State gives them money which they then spend on bonuses and perks instead of the necessary infrastructure upgrades and expansions that are required.

Of course, being the brother in law of the city leadership turns out to be very lucrative in those situations.

When it comes to water, Texas should look at how the UK manages its waterways, impounds, and flooding. Should Texas turn the trickle sized rivers downstream from the bass lakes into canals with locks and transits between waterways there wouldn't be any drought because there would be massive amounts of stored water already available.

This would also eliminate the problem of dams releasing floodwaters into hurricane battered areas and exacerbating the flooding problem that is already there. Or allowing water to rush unchecked downstream to kill 29 girls in a scout camp in the middle of the night.

But, instead of doing any of that Texas has turned the entire State in what amounts to being a "company town." Because that pays a LOT of money to those in charge while the people get nothing, not even effective management of state resources.

Key Causes of the Crisis

• Population Growth: Thousands of new residents move to Texas every day, putting heavy pressure on local cities and towns.
• Drying Supplies: Prolonged droughts, low reservoir levels, and shrinking groundwater aquifers reduce the amount of available fresh water.
• Leaking Pipes: Aging city water pipes lose billions of gallons of treated water to leaks every single year.
• New Industrial Demand: Fast-growing industries, including large data centers that need water for cooling, increase stress on local supplies.
• Treaty Disputes: Low flows along the Rio Grande have triggered international water-sharing conflicts with Mexico

ALL FIXABLE WITH GOOD LEADERSHIP

Texas is going the way of Iran, poor water resource management.

 

[icanhelp1]

Lazaran’s white flag flying high this week!

Search assisted... Saw this on News Max (I believe) which prompted me to research it.

Interesting read. Interesting concept;

Nuclear power plants positioned in the ocean—often called floating or offshore nuclear power plants (OFNPs)—are alternative energy stations built on marine platforms, barges, or submersible structures rather than fixed land sites.

Current Status and Developments

• • Operational Plants: Russia's Akademik Lomonosov is currently the world’s only operational floating nuclear power plant, providing energy and heat to isolated remote regions.
  • New U.S. Initiatives: The U.S. government and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have explored evaluating underwater and offshore modular reactor concepts in federal waters.
  • Global Frameworks: International groups like the International Atomic Energy Agency are working to establish safety, transport, and operational norms for marine nuclear tech.

Design and Placement

• • Distance and Depth: Academic designs, such as those studied by researchers at MIT, typically place cylindrical floating plants 8 to 12 miles offshore in waters at least 100 meters deep.
  • Connection: They link to the mainland electricity grid entirely through secure underwater power transmission cables.

Potential Benefits

• • Natural Cooling: Deep ocean water acts as an infinite, passive heat sink for emergency cooling without needing active pumps.
  • Disaster Resistance: Being miles out at sea protects the reactor core from land-based hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis.
  • Easier Construction: Building units in standardized shipyards cuts down the high costs and long delays common with custom land-based builds.
  • Water Desalination: Many floating concepts naturally produce clean, desalted water as a secondary byproduct of their cooling operations.

Risks and Concerns

• • Marine Impact: Environmental groups warn that warm water discharge and routine operations could harm nearby marine ecosystems.
  • Accident Exposure: Weather extremes, severe storms, collision risks with commercial ships, and difficult maintenance logistics complicate emergency responses at sea.

 

[ll74]

Search assisted... Saw this on News Max (I believe) which prompted me to research it.

Interesting read. Interesting concept;

Nuclear power plants positioned in the ocean—often called floating or offshore nuclear power plants (OFNPs)—are alternative energy stations built on marine platforms, barges, or submersible structures rather than fixed land sites.

Current Status and Developments

• • Operational Plants: Russia's Akademik Lomonosov is currently the world’s only operational floating nuclear power plant, providing energy and heat to isolated remote regions.
  • New U.S. Initiatives: The U.S. government and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have explored evaluating underwater and offshore modular reactor concepts in federal waters.
  • 
    
  • Global Frameworks: International groups like the International Atomic Energy Agency are working to establish safety, transport, and operational norms for marine nuclear tech.

Design and Placement

• • Distance and Depth: Academic designs, such as those studied by researchers at MIT, typically place cylindrical floating plants 8 to 12 miles offshore in waters at least 100 meters deep.
  • Connection: They link to the mainland electricity grid entirely through secure underwater power transmission cables.

Potential Benefits

• • Natural Cooling: Deep ocean water acts as an infinite, passive heat sink for emergency cooling without needing active pumps.
  • Disaster Resistance: Being miles out at sea protects the reactor core from land-based hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis.
  • Easier Construction: Building units in standardized shipyards cuts down the high costs and long delays common with custom land-based builds.
  • Water Desalination: Many floating concepts naturally produce clean, desalted water as a secondary byproduct of their cooling operations.

Risks and Concerns

• • Marine Impact: Environmental groups warn that warm water discharge and routine operations could harm nearby marine ecosystems.
  • Accident Exposure: Weather extremes, severe storms, collision risks with commercial ships, and difficult maintenance logistics complicate emergency responses at sea.

I'm a proponent of nuclear plants built for data center farms

 

[HisArpy]

Search assisted... Saw this on News Max (I believe) which prompted me to research it.

Interesting read. Interesting concept;

Nuclear power plants positioned in the ocean—often called floating or offshore nuclear power plants (OFNPs)—are alternative energy stations built on marine platforms, barges, or submersible structures rather than fixed land sites.

Current Status and Developments

• • Operational Plants: Russia's Akademik Lomonosov is currently the world’s only operational floating nuclear power plant, providing energy and heat to isolated remote regions.
  • New U.S. Initiatives: The U.S. government and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have explored evaluating underwater and offshore modular reactor concepts in federal waters.
  • 
    
  • Global Frameworks: International groups like the International Atomic Energy Agency are working to establish safety, transport, and operational norms for marine nuclear tech.

Design and Placement

• • Distance and Depth: Academic designs, such as those studied by researchers at MIT, typically place cylindrical floating plants 8 to 12 miles offshore in waters at least 100 meters deep.
  • Connection: They link to the mainland electricity grid entirely through secure underwater power transmission cables.

Potential Benefits

• • Natural Cooling: Deep ocean water acts as an infinite, passive heat sink for emergency cooling without needing active pumps.
  • Disaster Resistance: Being miles out at sea protects the reactor core from land-based hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis.
  • Easier Construction: Building units in standardized shipyards cuts down the high costs and long delays common with custom land-based builds.
  • Water Desalination: Many floating concepts naturally produce clean, desalted water as a secondary byproduct of their cooling operations.

Risks and Concerns

• • Marine Impact: Environmental groups warn that warm water discharge and routine operations could harm nearby marine ecosystems.
  • Accident Exposure: Weather extremes, severe storms, collision risks with commercial ships, and difficult maintenance logistics complicate emergency responses at sea.

Anyone who has ever worked offshore understands that this a STUPID idea.

Sea water is like the most corrosive stuff on the planet. Yes I understand that most people will argue that it's not but even stainless steel will corrode and rot at a rate most people won't believe. That's why oil platforms are under constant repair and putting a nuclear reactor into that environment is just asking for a meltdown and uncontrolled radiation leak. Even concrete breaks down.

You also can't repair, you have to replace in situ while everything continues on around you. No heavy duty supply system either and what you can get is limited by the weather and state of the ocean surface.

Honestly putting a nuke plant offshore is just a really dumb idea ginned up by people who've never been offshore except maybe on a cruise ship.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Search assisted... Saw this on News Max (I believe) which prompted me to research it.

Interesting read. Interesting concept;

Nuclear power plants positioned in the ocean—often called floating or offshore nuclear power plants (OFNPs)—are alternative energy stations built on marine platforms, barges, or submersible structures rather than fixed land sites.

Current Status and Developments

• • Operational Plants: Russia's Akademik Lomonosov is currently the world’s only operational floating nuclear power plant, providing energy and heat to isolated remote regions.
  • New U.S. Initiatives: The U.S. government and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have explored evaluating underwater and offshore modular reactor concepts in federal waters.
  • 
    
  • Global Frameworks: International groups like the International Atomic Energy Agency are working to establish safety, transport, and operational norms for marine nuclear tech.

Design and Placement

• • Distance and Depth: Academic designs, such as those studied by researchers at MIT, typically place cylindrical floating plants 8 to 12 miles offshore in waters at least 100 meters deep.
  • Connection: They link to the mainland electricity grid entirely through secure underwater power transmission cables.

Potential Benefits

• • Natural Cooling: Deep ocean water acts as an infinite, passive heat sink for emergency cooling without needing active pumps.
  • Disaster Resistance: Being miles out at sea protects the reactor core from land-based hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis.
  • Easier Construction: Building units in standardized shipyards cuts down the high costs and long delays common with custom land-based builds.
  • Water Desalination: Many floating concepts naturally produce clean, desalted water as a secondary byproduct of their cooling operations.

Risks and Concerns

• • Marine Impact: Environmental groups warn that warm water discharge and routine operations could harm nearby marine ecosystems.
  • Accident Exposure: Weather extremes, severe storms, collision risks with commercial ships, and difficult maintenance logistics complicate emergency responses at sea.

Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta are all investing in nuclear power to run their centers. The Fermi data center project in Texas has plans for 4 nuclear reactors as well as LNG and solar sources.

 

[Lazaran]

BabyBoozer & ineedhelp1 have NOT been keeping up with the news:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/one-east-coasts/FLINKT37S4ZETKVAOOBBH6YNIM/







BabyBoozer & ineedhelp1



WE. TOLD. THEM. SO.

 

[73Seahawks]

Tech Giants Sign On To Ottawa’s Data Centre Development Rules​

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and Meta are among the signatories announced Thursday by Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon and Federation of Canadian Municipalities president Tim Tierney.

https://www.connectcre.ca/stories/tech-giants-sign-on-to-ottawas-data-centre-development-rules/

Canada is going to Canada.