Microsoft cancels leases for AI data centers, analyst says

Counterpoint: the PC.

The minicomputer revolution was meant to replace all the big iron in the basement with computers shared by teams. This lasted a decade until we got computers meant for one person and we've used that format of computation for nearly 50 years now.

Everyone is talking about how AI will replace people.

It won't.

AI without HI is useless. However, HI with AI is much better at handling all the bullshit office work that needs to get done—anyone who doesn't understand this is either an idiot, a troglodyte, or already has an expendable army of minions doing their work.

The surge in AI demand won't be top-down but bottom-up. That stupid office birthday wish card being passed around? I can Shakespeare the motherfucker. And that email to the big boss telling him the project is doomed and that he needs a compass to find his own ass? Let's ask R1.

>My boss is a moron who can't find his ass without a compass. His latest tech initiative will cost us millions and make the best staff leave. Write a professional letter that covers those points without being harsh.

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Subject: Request for Review of Upcoming [Tech Initiative]

Dear [Recipient Name/Team Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share some thoughts regarding our upcoming [Tech Initiative Name], as I believe open dialogue will ensure its success while aligning with our team’s strengths and long-term goals.

While the initiative’s intent to innovate is commendable, I’ve observed several potential challenges that may impact its effectiveness:

Financial Impact: Based on preliminary analysis, the projected costs appear to be significantly higher than initially estimated. A detailed cost-benefit review or phased rollout might help mitigate financial risk while allowing us to test feasibility.

Team Retention Concerns: Many of our top performers have expressed reservations about the initiative’s current structure, particularly around [specific pain point, e.g., workflow disruption, lack of clarity]. Retaining their expertise will be critical to execution, and their insights could refine the plan to better address on-the-ground needs.

To ensure alignment with both our strategic objectives and team capacity, I respectfully suggest:

Conducting a collaborative risk assessment with department leads.

Piloting the initiative in a controlled environment to gather feedback.

Hosting a forum for staff to voice concerns/solutions pre-launch.

I’m confident that with adjustments, this project can achieve its goals while preserving morale and resources. Thank you for considering this perspective—I’m eager to support any steps toward a sustainable path forward.

Best regards,

Appropriation bills don't go as far as they used to anymore as well...

This is a very refreshing take.

Our current intellectual milieu is largely incapable of nuance—everything is black or white, on or off, good or evil. Too many people believe that the AI question is as bipolar as every other topic is today: Will AI be godlike or will it be worthless? Will it be a force for absolute good or a force for absolute evil?

It's nice to see someone in the inner circles of the hype finally acknowledge that AI, like just about everything else, will almost certainly not exist at the extremes. Neither God nor Satan, neither omnipotent nor worthless: useful but not humanity's final apotheosis.

a lot of this sounds like a normal course of business and stuff that msft does all the time. i don't understand the openai drama speculation on here. msft continues to have right of first refusal on openai training and exclusivity on inferencing. if someone else wants to build up openai capacity to spend money on msft for inferencing, msft would be thrilled. they recognize revenue on inferecing not training at the moment, so it's all upside to their revenue numbers

It's not a resource problem; everyone inside the system has no real incentive to do anything innovative; improving something incrementally is more likely to be seen as extra work by your colleagues and be detrimental to the person who implemented it.

What's more likely is a significantly better system is introduced somewhere, NHS can't keep up and is rebuilt by an external. (Or more likely it becomes a inferior system of a lesser nation as the UK continues its decline).