AI data centre campuses<\/a> in Alberta, Canada, and Utah in the United States. The developments would include dedicated power infrastructure capable of supporting up to 15 gigawatts of computing capacity. If completed, Wonder Valley would rank among the largest AI infrastructure projects in the world.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/a1770497c92dc068c6716511f371e6bf703d78f0.jpg\")
A still shot from the Wonder Valley promotional video Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n
O\u2019Leary claims this isn\u2019t simply about property development. It\u2019s about geopolitics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a global competition going on regarding who will control the most advanced AI models,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really boils down to two countries: China and the US.\u201d<\/p>\n
He argues the deciding factor isn\u2019t talent or software – it\u2019s electricity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I were the Chinese, I would want to win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what do you need for that? You need power.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Leary points to China\u2019s rapid expansion of electricity generation as evidence the race is already underway.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey built 400 gigawatts of power primarily off coal-burning turbines,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re winning. They\u2019re building more power than any other country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The invisible infrastructure<\/p>\n
Most people rarely think about data centres, yet they\u2019re behind almost every digital interaction – from online banking and government services to social media and AI chatbots.<\/p>\n
In many ways, they\u2019re becoming as essential to modern life as airports, ports or rail networks.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/43a303ea6fc6d61e970b9989155a5d790524cd67.jpg\")
A general view of a Next DC building in Brisbane Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Data centres are highly secure facilities that house thousands of computers, servers, and networking equipment required for cloud computing, online banking, streaming services, and artificial intelligence. (AAP Image\/Jono Searle) NO ARCHIVING Credit: JONO SEARLE\/AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n
Australia already has 162 operational data centres, with another 90 planned or under construction.<\/p>\n
Because they rely on reliable electricity, fibre networks and existing infrastructure, most are built close to cities and residential communities.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where the conflict begins.<\/p>\n
Few people dispute the country needs more digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n
The bigger question is what communities are willing to accept to keep it running.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9a86cb7e17a093bb9345fd93eba09021517c093d.jpg\")
A general view of a Next DC building, an AI Data Centre currently under expansion in Brisbane, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Data centres are highly secure facilities that house thousands of computers, servers, and networking equipment required for cloud computing, online banking, streaming services, and artificial intelligence. (AAP Image\/Jono Searle) NO ARCHIVING Credit: JONO SEARLE\/AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n
Asked whether he\u2019d ever seen the level of community opposition now facing the industry, O\u2019Leary didn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019ll also say this: in the history of 250 years of the American economy, there\u2019s never been a capital expenditure this size ever in any sector. Ever. Not even close.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that some of the fiercest opposition in the US has been directed at O\u2019Leary\u2019s own projects.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019d live next door\u2019<\/p>\n
Much of the public concern centres on noise, water use and energy consumption.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Leary says those fears are based on outdated perceptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason that negative narrative started was about 15 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey used copious amounts of water. They spewed off massive amounts of heat. They were really noisy because the chips back in those days were horrific in terms of the fans that cooled them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s facilities, he argues, are very different.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at a modern-day data centre, they don\u2019t even look remotely like anything built before because the technology is so much better.\u201d<\/p>\n
His confidence goes as far as saying he\u2019d happily live beside one himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would live beside a data centre I built,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A warning for Australia<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s data centre boom is already raising serious questions about transparency, oversight and regulation at every level of government.<\/p>\n
But as the country prepares for an AI-driven future, Kevin O\u2019Leary believes Australia has a rare opportunity to attract billions of dollars in new investment. In fact, he\u2019d be willing to invest some of his own money.<\/p>\n
But, he says, success will depend less on politics than on policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment isn\u2019t really about politicians. It\u2019s about policy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSet the rules so that capital from around the world understands what they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Prime](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fc092ebbca375f9bd27b2caf36aa8e1f4789cf52.jpg\")
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AAP Image\/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING Credit: MICK TSIKAS\/AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n
He describes Australia as an attractive destination thanks to its political stability, natural resources and skilled workforce.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019re competitive, everybody will come to Australia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s safe. It has remarkable resources, highly educated people and a great entrepreneurial spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
His final message to policymakers was characteristically direct.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only way you screw that up is with bad policy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo whoever\u2019s listening in government, read my lips: don\u2019t screw it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
A new 7NEWS Spotlight documentary explores the promises and pitfalls of Australia\u2019s data centre boom – from the race to power the AI revolution to the concerns of residents living alongside these new digital factories.<\/p>\n
WATCH: The Revolution: Inside Australia\u2019s Data Centre Boom, Sunday 830pm on Channel 7 and 7plus<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kevin O\u2019Leary wasn\u2019t quite what we expected. Joining us via Zoom from his purpose-built television studio in Canada,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":788730,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99,44,105],"class_list":["post-788729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business","tag-news","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=788729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788729\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/788730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=788729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=788729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=788729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Shark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/11ae4e78ec26141d24d5fd2b6724596197cd1c04.jpg\")
Shark Tank\u2019s Kevin O\u2019Leary Credit: Supplied <\/p>\n