White Paper Issue 7, September 2025
Think…AI: Ambition vs. Appetite
Artificial intelligence is already transforming healthcare, science, and business- delivering breakthroughs once thought decades away. powering this revolution requires large, resource-hungry data centres.
But can Australia’s energy, water, supply chains, and skilled workforce keep pace with growing digital demand?
Coal-fired power stations are closing, renewable energy is not scaling fast enough, water resources are under strain, and both workforce and supply chain bottlenecks risk slowing progress. Meanwhile, competing priorities like the housing crisis and major infrastructure projects are adding pressure, leaving the public uncertain about AI’s benefits and potential impact.
The latest whitepaper from ADP Consulting explores how smarter design, efficient operations, and coordinated investment across essential resources will determine whether Australia can seize this pivotal moment or struggle under rising pressures.
"Data centres and other major infrastructure projects can propel Australia to a prosperous future. But to get there, the demand for electricity and other resources could exceed anything in human history – risking resource shortages and widespread consequences."
