Post #2192020
2026-05-04 17:18 UTC
scale
one of the key findings of our research was that scale is one of the main issues when it comes to the current phase of AI hype. the models used are so energy-intensive and inefficient that they require ever more and ever larger data centres to run (see also the word ‘hyperscale’ used to describe the new generation of cloud factories). at the same time, we are experiencing unprecedented climate pressures. so things are not really adding up.
Replies (1)
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@apsiapsi@typo.social 2026-05-04 17:22
at the start of the research, we engaged with the case of zeewolde, a town in flevoland where meta had planned to build a hyperscale data centre in the early 2020s. the case became emblematic, because it was one of the first instances where people successfully stopped such a project. unfortunately, the same project was then transferred to spain, which motivated us to visit the new location.