The growing backlash against hyperscale AI data centres – The Front Page

Chelsea DanielsThe Front Page podcast host·NZ Herald·7 Aug, 2026 05:00 AM3 mins to read‌Data centres are nothing new, but with hyperscale versions now being proposed, the conversation has evolved. UoA AI expert Dr Kerry McInerney joins The Front Page to explain.AI data centres Investment bank Morgan Stanley estimates that worldwide, US$3 trillion will be spent on data centres that support AI between now and 2029.In the US, there have been conversations about how these centres will affect power grids and how nearby residents will be affected.