Community Conversations: The Impact of AI Data Centres

Join us at Concord Library to learn how artificial intelligence (AI) data centres reshape local economies, environments and communities. This talk will be hosted by business leader, entrepreneur, technologist, coach and adjunct professor, Murali Dharan.

Murali will demystify what data centres are, why they are essential to the AI revolution, and how they shape our socio-economic landscape. This session will explore the benefits they can bring – such as job creation, economic investment and stronger digital resilience – alongside the challenges, including high energy consumption, water demand, planning pressures and community concerns.

We will discuss how to manage the growth of data centres in a way that ensures fair outcomes, promotes environmental responsibility and delivers meaningful benefits to local communities.