The biggest data center ever is becoming a huge problem in Utah
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/933687/utah-stratos-project-data-center-kevin-oleary
The biggest data center ever is becoming a huge problem in Utah
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/933687/utah-stratos-project-data-center-kevin-oleary
27 Comments
This is the part of the AI boom that feels under discussed.
Everyone talks about models and chips, but the physical infrastructure behind them is starting to collide with power grids, water use, land use, and local politics.
AI doesn’t stay “virtual” once you need facilities at this scale.
Why does this feel as hoax to me, “We’re building a $4bn datacenter the ludicrous humongous datacenter to rule all datacenters but it will take us forever to build it, anyway, give ca$h now!”
Can we vote out politicians that support subsidizing data centers? All these Utah voters need to vote for what benefits them.
Also, AI data centers destroys jobs, not create them. With their billions, couldn’t they just install solar on their roof? Hell, take only recycled water. Build better building to shield noise.
Even after all that, it destroys jobs… so what is the benefit for Americans again?
And this problem will continue to escalate as long as data centers exist.
100% Kevin O’Leary just heard “data center” being thrown around by his other rich friends and decided he was going to make the biggest one. I doubt he even really understands what they’re for or what they do.
oh yea… Utah, bastion of progress
Mr Wonderful is anything but. He’s a lecherous clown and the more people that know it, the better.
tbh building a massive facility that requires millions of gallons of water just to keep the servers cool in the middle of a literal desert is peak tech industry logic.
it’s wild how local residents are constantly told to take shorter showers and let their lawns die, but big tech is allowed to drain the local water supply so they can train an ai to generate slightly worse search results. the priorities are completely backward.
Does the Canadian Kevin know Utah is a desert? And like, running out of water?
These two young women who are organizing against O’Leary’s data center burned him in this Youtube video. https://youtu.be/JDy6UrHittQ?si=Sgb0FD7sCNN9jOI0
Someone might want to look into the thousands of acers Mike Schultz, UT Speaker of the House, bought. Just happens to be in the same general vicinity of this facility.
Kevin O’leary is a POS.
I predict what actually gets built will be a fraction – less than 50% – of what they’ve planned. And probably more like 10%-15%.
This smacks of the Wisconsin Foxconn Scott Walker debacle.
Twice the size of Manhattan + will use more energy than the entire state. Fucking insanity
//So far, Utah officials have dismissed — and even derided — public outrage.//
When you vote for people who think government is the enemy. Who do you suppose they’ll think is the enemy once they’re in government?
The old saying “money is the root of all evils,” feels really relevant nowadays.
Governor Cox doesn’t care about what Utah citizens want. Republicans and Democrats both hate this new datacenter and have all been vocal about not wanting it. Cox doesn’t care.
Isn’t this the back story that played out in Ready Player One? Data Centers ruined the climate and forced everyone into makeshift cities and AI/Video games kept people online? Ignoring the major climate crisis and lining the pockets of corporations? This is real life now?
Their “elected” city council told their constituents that showed up in protest to pound sand. Bold move… but expected.
The actual reason O’Leary wants the approvals and permits accelerated is because he wants to qualify for the Special immediate 100% Bonus Asset Depreciation that Congress is allowing. But, the project timelines must meet strict timelines.
Lets put something that needs to be cooled 24/7 in the middle of a desert
What could POSSIBLY go wrong
Headline reads as if it exists already to trick you all into believing it HAS TO HAPPEN.
What the actual FUCK?!
> he equivalent of about 23 atom bombs worth of energy dumped into this local environment every single day.
We need to get these rich bastards under control. They are literally insane and will kill us all.
Why don’t they build them in Alaska where it’s nice a cold?
Fuck this guy. Narcissist sociopaths get away with too much bullshit like this. People in Utah and neighboring states need to fight this. Energy prices are going to spike and property values are going to tank if they don’t. He chose Utah because he felt they would be the biggest pushovers in the US.