Ask Lemmy

If/when the AI bubble bursts, I'm skeptical that they would get repurposed as any kind of non-AI data center, as I doubt the demand would come anywhere close to matching the supply. The hardware would probably be sold off for pennies on the dollar, and hopefully these parts weren't designed to be unusable in consumer PCs. I'd like to see those data centers turn into homeless shelters or something of benefit to the community, but that'd require extensive reconfiguring of the interior for a non-profit cause. More likely they'll end up as warehouses and distribution centers, or end up as long-term vacancies.

Hopefully cheap parts, but more likely just another excuse for higher consumer prices on everything.

Burn

Given the capital required to build the facilities, it is likely that the datacenters will likely be used or sold as is. I expect that they will be used for some sort of cloud computing, whether it is AI or something else. For instance, I've seen some companies start selling specialized data processing for animation and a datacenter geared towards AI may be perfect for that.

I also wouldn't be surprised if the tech gets used for mass facial recognition if the capital cost drops. It might get used first for loss prevention and crime prevention, but I could see it expand to target advertising and optimize store layout.

They become the go to place for huge LAN parties.

Some will continue working just drop the compute price by a lot. Others will be mothballed for a while until someone can figure out how to run them profitably.

Expect a lot of new (or even resurrected old) use cases to pop up. For example I expect cloud gaming to make a huge comeback driven by cheaper prices. Us mortals won't be able to afford our own GPUs for a while, but there will suddenly be a surplus of data center units for rent.

Oh just wait and see, you'll find out how fast people will come along and scrap the metal and scavenge the RAM and other parts...

We'll use them for other data applications.

This is from October of last year, it's way more than I thought:

Nearly 3,000 new data centers are under construction or planned across the U.S., per a new analysis shared first with Axios — adding to the more than 4,000 already in operation.

https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/data-center-growth-map-states

You will rent your computer and be happy

I asked a chatbot that question a few months ago when I was trying them out. It came up with lots of bullshit ideas that make no sense to me, and one genuine use for some of that surplus data centre capacity: Scientific computing. Physics, astronomy, climate simulations, that sort of thing.

Aside from that maybe when all the big AI companies go bust their assets will be bought up by new operators who will continue to flood the market with cheap generative AI, without the burden of having to pretend that it's possible to pay off all the debt incurred in building it. There are only so many high-energy physics simulations it's worth doing and having that many GPUs is not really useful for much else that anyone's discovered so far.

According to the Internet though it is said that the useful lifespan of a big Nvidia data centre GPU is something like 5-10 years, so it won't be a problem for long.

They will get bought up for pennies by the few surviving AI companies, who will establish themselves as the definitive AI giants

They think they can be parted out (maybe), or at least that’s how they pitch it to investors. Never mind the fact that chips get old and depreciate.

What happens is recession for all, not just us.

Honestly, I imagine a combination of all of these things. Some will probably be abandoned, some liquidated, some bought up by other keen companies. Whatever is most economically viable at the time.

converted into lasertag arenas

I bet Walmart would like to turn them into new stores. Too bad the economy will be in such bad shape the average consumer won’t be able to afford a can of dog shit.

Prison camps

Skynet

Concentration camp warehouses, of course!