More and more mainstream analysts are identifying the coming AI crash, which is a good indication that it will happen soon.
So, what happens to all the data centers? They are already built but probably very expensive to maintain. Will many of them just be abandoned? Bought up by cloud computing companies? Scammers? Crypto miners? Can they be parted out and sold off piecemeal?
Will they be put to some productive use, or just become massive e-waste sites left to the locals to deal with?
If companies can’t afford the data centers they’ll probably be sold off. An AI crash doesn’t mean LLMs and AI goes away. While the pricing model may not be working for many, the underlying tech is for many customers big and small. Models will have to get more efficient, but in line with Jevons Paradox, use will continue to grow. Maybe a pause in growth, but I don’t see a graveyard of data centers unless some major shift in regulation.
But sold to who?
Anybody who could benefit from cheap computing hardware. Like I said, AI bubble popping doesn’t mean end of AI or LLMs specifically. Lots of people will still need computing power. Some other people mentioned, but cloud computing companies could likely be buyers. Maybe investors, same people that buy up commercial real estate. Small companies who want to build out their own data centers/servers.
Those of us who want to have our very own personal copy of the internet.