Famed short-seller Jim Chanos has publicly cast doubt on the explosive growth projected for the artificial intelligence (AI) data center market, taking a direct shot at a bullish report from asset management giant Brookfield.
Chanos Bets Against The AI Hype
In a social media post, Chanos responded to Brookfield’s forecast of a more than tenfold increase in AI data center capacity by 2034, simply stating, “I’ll take the ‘under’.”
The challenge was aimed at Brookfield’s “Building the Backbone of AI” report, which outlines a massive buildout of the physical infrastructure needed to power the next industrial revolution.
The report projects that total AI data center capacity will surge from 7 GW in 2024 to 82 GW by 2034, a 28% compound annual growth rate. Brookfield estimates this represents a staggering $7 trillion investment opportunity across AI factories, power, and compute infrastructure over the next decade.