Large and hyperscale datacentres are not even required

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From one of our many Anonymouses yesterday this comment relevant to the current debate on large data centres in Scotland. it is, of course, beyond my competence.

Large and hyperscale datacentres are not even required. ‘AI’ is just clever programming using certain types of data modelling and (Bayesian) statistics, following programming instructions like any other software.

Most of the desirable functions of AI are perfectly suited to running in a distributed manner especially in modern peer to peer networks incorporating edge datacentres, basically currently available public and private institutional hardware, perhaps even supplemented by all of our unused computer CPU/GPU cycles.

Jim Minnie correctly refers to this as ‘distributed smaller-scale facilities’ and networks. These are seen by the multinationals as an adjunct but it is the ‘big tech’ infrastructure that we should be utterly shunning and instead operating the open source systems of Estonia or Flanders.

Even France is adopting Linux across government and public systems and abandoning the no longer trustworthy American tech ecosystem just as the BRICS and North Korea have done. Centralising data with ‘AI’ via large and hyperscale datacentres is a bit like shutting down all of the world’s libraries and galleries save a few mega-institutions where the collection is curated by a few master librarians (‘Big Lib’) who decide what you are allowed to borrow (at cost) and who reprocess all of the books, videos, photos, music, art etc. into ‘new’ products as ‘Big Lib’ and ‘Big Gov’ (before they merge) see fit. And destroy the originals

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/30/why-ai-companies-are-destroying-millions-of-old-books/.

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4 thoughts on “Large and hyperscale datacentres are not even required”

  1. I trained as a computer programmer in 1984 and went to work for The Distillers Company who were linking 110 sites via a frame relay network. This was the main reason for Guinness acquiring the company.

    Since then I’ve worked on all kinds of computer networks and IT infrastructure. The case for giant data centres seems to rest on keeping legacy networks alive. Oracle has been the backbone of global databases for decades, but underneath it runs on creaky 70s technology as do most of the big corporations.

    Our anonymous friend is right, better software running on distributed/edge networks negates the requirement for mega data centres. Sadly for Oracle etc, this will make their current setups redundant, not good news for their shareholders.

    This is similar to the transition from using horses and carts to cars and trucks. Trying to keep old technology alive because so much has been invested in it, and currently it’s worth a lot, is a form of capitalist Ludditism.

    We’re living in an age where creating energy is causing serious problems to the environment. Wasting it on unnecessary data centres is insanity.

    If you want to spend an hour or so becoming more informed, here’s a group who really know their stuff Black Swan on Substack and their associated website https://datacentermadness.com/

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  2. Astute article, proof being all the countries deciding to get away from American AI.

    UK will never consider it but Scotland should. This would be a hugely positive economic development opportunity for Scotland. High paying jobs with control IN Scotland.

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  3. This s just a contribution that is not informed by personal computing expertise. I read a headline article in today’s online ‘New Yorker’ that a big data centre uses as much electricty as Philadelphia.

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