If I assume you're asking “what motivates the GenAI corporation drive to rapidly expand data processing capacity (by building more enormous data centres)?”
@theluddite

then I think you're right it's not *merely* the drive for endless growth.

IMO it's the drive to *monopolise* the field, by growing big quickly and getting as many users early as possible

combined with the fantasy that *only monopoly scale can do this*. To commodify and democratise this tech, is anathema to them.

@bignose Yeah you understood! Totally with you but I find myself going in circles because I think that all you said is true, but it still doesn't explain it because monopolizing data centers was already a thing before the AI hype.

Then "only monopoly scale can do this" is I again right I think but what is *this* and why do they think they'll actually get it this shockingly expensive way?

It's not data centres they are desperate to monopolise; as you say @theluddite they already do that.

Rather, it's *because* these corporations control the huge data centres, that they must propagate the assumption that big data centres are *necessary* to achieve their fantasy promises.

And hey, wouldn't you know it, here's Amazon and Microsoft and all the gang, ready to go with mammoth data centre capacity. Clearly they must be the leaders to listen to on how this goes.

@bignose

Great point but do you think it explains just how much money they're willing to set on fire? And even then, what is it about AI that makes that connection? In this explanation, what distinguishes AI from, say, crypto, which also requires massive investments? There is also a crypto hype that fuels material investment, but AI seems to have a lot more juice here.