World's Largest Data Center Will Consume More Electricity Than All of Utah
"That data center, once completed, will draw about 9 gigawatts of power. How much is 9 gigawatts? Well, 9 gigawatts is more than twice what the entire state of Utah now uses. Every human being in the millions of people who live in Utah, all of them combined, all the manufacturing in Utah, all the ski lifts, all of it, every air conditioning unit, every electric heater, every Tesla, all of them combined use less than half that amount of electricity."
About this episode
Tucker Carlson delivered a monologue and interviewed investor Kevin O'Leary about the massive build-out of AI data centers across America, focusing on O'Leary's controversial 40,000-acre Utah facility that will be the world's largest. Carlson opened by arguing that despite a global energy crisis from the Iran war, America's elites have suddenly abandoned climate concerns to demand massive energy expansion—not for citizens, but for AI compute power. He questioned why taxpayers must subsidize these projects when proponents cannot articulate how AI benefits ordinary Americans. The core tension: data centers promise to eliminate millions of high-paying intellectual jobs while offering no clear replacement employment, potentially destroying the human need for creative purpose. Carlson cited Larry Fink admitting industry leaders expect domestic drone attacks from citizens against data centers, and showed footage of college graduates booing AI at their own commencement. O'Leary defended the project by invoking competition with China, claiming Chinese agents were coordinating social media opposition to American data centers. He argued surveillance and job displacement concerns are overblown, comparing AI to the Model T and internet. But when pressed repeatedly on what jobs AI would create, O'Leary could only say "nobody knows yet" while insisting innovation always produces unforeseen opportunities. On energy, O'Leary confirmed the Utah facility will use 9 gigawatts—more than twice Utah's current total—but insisted it will be energy independent through natural gas turbines. Carlson challenged why the richest Americans and largest corporations receive tax subsidies from working-class citizens, calling it a forced wealth transfer rather than capitalism. The interview revealed a fundamental impasse: O'Leary views Chinese AI dominance as the existential threat requiring any sacrifice, while Carlson argues America risks becoming China—a surveillance state where citizens lack purpose—in the name of beating China.
Key takeaways
- Larry Fink admitted at a private gathering that he expects domestic drone terrorism against data centers, calling the threat an opportunity not a problem.
- Kevin O'Leary's Utah data center will consume 9 gigawatts of power—more than double what the entire state of Utah currently uses—while creating only 2,000 permanent jobs.
- O'Leary claimed Chinese intelligence services are coordinating social media attacks against American data centers within hours of local approvals, naming specific activist groups.
- When pressed repeatedly to name jobs AI would create, O'Leary could only cite historical analogy and admitted nobody knows what employment will emerge.
- Florida college graduates loudly booed a commencement speaker who called AI exciting and the future, revealing generational divide over technology.
- Nevada power company informed 55,000 Lake Tahoe residents that electricity will be cut off by end of 2027 because all power must go to nearby data centers.
- Carlson argued AI threatens human purpose itself by eliminating creative work, which he called the only source of meaning and joy in life.