Datacentres are a ticking timebomb. We must make sure AI’s benefits outweigh the costs | Nicki Hutley

The rapid expansion of datacentres driven by AI growth poses significant economic, environmental, and social challenges globally, including in Australia. Despite their scale and impact, governments often treat datacentres as infrastructure without fully assessing their broader costs and benefits. While AI offers substantial benefits in areas like healthcare and energy, the unchecked datacentre boom raises concerns about sustainability and equitable value distribution.