Will data centres avoid the curse of the mega-project?
Data-centre mega-projects face the curse of every infrastructure buildout: materials, power, labour. Here's what could derail the AI compute race.
Why it matters
The physical buildout underpinning AI — data centres, power, supply chains — is hitting real-world constraints. This story examines whether the AI infrastructure wave can overcome classic mega-project failure modes.
The key facts
10 to knowMaterials shortages identified as a risk factor
Planning delays and permitting bottlenecks noted
Labour scarcity in construction and operations sectors
Power access and grid capacity constraints
Systemic risks to AI compute buildout timelines
Data-center construction facing materials shortages
Planning delays cited as risk factor
Labour scarcity impacting buildout velocity
Power access emerging as critical constraint
Mega-project delivery risk analysis (FT framing suggests historical parallels to infrastructure delays)
Go to the source
Financial Times Technologyft.com
Publisher excerpt: Many things can go awry, from materials shortages, planning delays, labour scarcity and access to power