Description

Artificial intelligence - and the data centres that support it - are no longer just a share market story. It’s become a conversation about power, water, land, security, and who gets to build the infrastructure behind the next wave of the economy. Craig Scroggie has spent 15 years building NEXTDC into one of Australia’s biggest data centre companies - and now the AI boom is sending that business into overdrive. What does he make of the surge in demand, and the enormous build-out now under way? And what about the harder questions that come with it: how much energy will AI need? Do data centres like his push up power bills? What does it all mean for jobs? And can Australia turn this into a genuine strategic advantage? NEXTDC chief executive Craig Scroggie joins Alan Kohler to unpack it all on That's Business with Alan Kohler. Got a burning business question? Send a short voice recording to the ABC Business Daily team at abcbusinessdaily@abc.net.au

Summary

This interview examines the massive infrastructure requirements of the AI boom, specifically focusing on the surge in demand for Australian data centers and their associated energy and water consumption. While primarily a business-focused discussion on NEXTDC's scaling, it highlights significant national security and strategic resource considerations linked to the physical layer of frontier AI. The conversation touches on the broader socio-economic impacts of AI deployment, including labor shifts and the potential for Australia to secure a strategic advantage in the global AI supply chain. It provides context on the material constraints that could influence the speed of AI development and the governance of critical infrastructure.

Body