this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2026
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The site explicitly mentions "AI data centers", but how do you differentiate AI data centers from... non-AI data centers I guess?
I understand the anti-AI sentiment and environmental issues, etc. but I also think a lot of non-technical people don't realise that literally everything they do online uses a data center.
Assuming the specs and blueprints are publicly available, an AI data center will look different on the inside compared to a traditional data center. The former will have more GPU racks and probably higher power requirements.
This, but it may also be apparent even without detailed information. The key difference is an absurd level of power density. So compare footprint to power. Power can be estimated easiest based on backup generators as their smokestacks are almost always visible. The last variable is whatever generator size from CAT, Cummins etc is the most cost effective, or that was still somehow left in a warehouse to actually buy.
Also if they're running the "backup" generators even when the power grid isn't having any issues...