Busting the myth of harmless AI: the real threat to our resources

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Data centres demand considered government policy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the super-sized data centres that power it are no longer the stuff of science fiction. They are realities already playing important roles in expanding Australia's sovereign capabilities.

With data centres being rolled out across the globe, and the US and China already engaged in a fully fledged AI "arms race", this technology is vital for economic resilience and national security.

Rejecting it, as some seem to suggest, is not an option. Australia must be open to the once-in-a-generation opportunities the technology delivers.

That said, it would be equally imprudent to capitulate to the unreasonable demands of global technology giants. Many developers approach infrastructure expansion with the same sense of entitlement and manifest destiny that marred the early expansion of the internet and social media.

They operate under a model where they expect to build whatever they want, wherever they want, and whenever they want. Handing tech billionaires licence to consume vast national resources unchecked would be a recipe for disaster.

These facilities are exceptionally energy and water hungry, placing immense strain on local environments. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas recently exposed the unrealistic expectations driving AI aspirations.

He said offshore developers were demanding up to a gigawatt of power by 2027, a massive target impossible to meet regardless of financial investment. Expecting established, ageing national grids to instantly absorb such staggering consumption without compromising local supply is not feasible. "Tell 'em they're dreaming," as the saying goes.

It is also important to note that, like the wind and solar farm rollout, these developments can impose a high cost in quality of life and general ambience on the communities that host them. And, as is the case with renewables infrastructure, regional areas are the most likely to bear the burden.

That's because the first requirement for a data centre development is…

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