Dwayne Monroe, a senior cloud consultant with over 20 years in data centers, and Cecilia Rikap, an associate professor in economics, dive into the world of hyperscale data centers. They discuss how tech giants like Amazon and Google are reshaping local economies and the environment with their insatiable resource demands. The impact on communities, including legal battles over water consumption and the push for transparency, raises critical questions about the future we want. Is the growth of cloud computing and its consequences sustainable?

Cecilia Rikap, an Associate Professor in Economics at University College London, dives into the maze of cloud computing and AI's economic impact. She explores how generative AI is reshaping power dynamics among tech giants, enhancing their cloud dominance. Rikap also sheds light on how corporate pressure drives rapid AI adoption, influencing academic research and raising questions about control and profit in the tech-academia connection. Her insights reveal the complex interplay between innovation and corporate strategy in today’s tech landscape.

Cecilia Rikap, a political economist, discusses the connection between intellectual property, monopoly power, and the rise of Big Tech. Topics include the impact of intellectual monopoly capitalism, the geopolitical struggle between the US and China, and the concentration of intangible assets. The podcast explores the transformation of big tech companies, collective gatekeeping, and the need for comprehensive policies to address the issues surrounding big tech.