Sam Altman calls for 'data centers that can create more data centers' — these careers could be most affected

“When you really think about the whole supply chain that has to come together to produce intelligence, I would say there is relatively too much focus on algorithms that create better algorithms, and not enough focus on data centers that can create more data centers which in a world of robots and a truly automated supply chain, you can totally imagine doing,” Altman said.

Automating away the blue-collar boom?

The data center buildout powering the AI boom has turbocharged demand for skilled trade labor. Over a thousand workers can be involved in pouring concrete, wiring electric panels and installing specialized equipment that ensures servers are cooled enough to manage enormous, non-stop AI workloads.

Despite jobs largely being temporary, the Center for Strategic and International Studies projected last year that an additional 140,000 HVAC pipefitters, electricians, welders, heavy equipment operators and construction laborers are needed through 2030 to maintain the buildout’s rapid tempo.

Meta has even launched a “workforce academy” that enlists Americans into a five-week training program that culminates in a job guarantee for graduates at a data center construction site. The company committed $115 million for the first year of the endeavor with campuses in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas.

What Altman is proposing could automate many of the jobs involved in the data center construction hiring frenzy.

“You can like spend a data center’s thinking power to drive a fleet of robots to make more copies of the data center, and that’s probably a very wonderful thing to do relative to other uses of that compute if we’re right about what that additional compute will eventually unlock,” Altman said on the podcast.

The hurdles ahead for a self-build era

There are numerous obstacles that will likely restrain Altman’s futuristic view from turning into reality anytime soon. To start, there are early signs that the data center hype isn’t fully aligned with the situation on the ground.

JPMorgan said in a May client note that 60% of data center projects set to be completed in 2027 aren’t under construction yet. AI companies are also colliding against a shortage of electrical equipment, such as transformers, and the chips needed to get data centers up and running. In addition, there’s brewing political resistance around data centers in both parties with several states like Texas issuing moratoriums to slow down their arrival.

A self-build era also isn’t showing up in the data at the moment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers forecasts that track job outlook for a wide range of occupations. Through 2034, demand for electricians is projected to increase by 9%. Demand for heating and refrigeration mechanics in the same period will go up 8%. The demand for construction laborers is expected to climb 7% as well.