Here’s a problem with so-called AI, spelled out by Aaron Kostyu, Information Technology Services Director, at the May 11, 2026, Lowndes County Commission Work Session.

Commissioner Michael Smith wondered why there was only one quote for the three servers IT requested.

ITS Director Kostyu answered:

AI is sucking up all the disks and memory, ITS Director @ Lowndes County Commission 2026-05-11

It’s because we can’t find hardware anywhere. They have increased over the last two months by 800 to 1000 percent.

None of the drives are available; none of the memory is available, because the AI industry is sucking it all up. They have done something unprecedented, and the memory industry has allowed them to purchase the next three lots before they are even created. And so we don’t see this ending anytime soon.

We’ve had difficulty getting hardware that normally choose because the prices have gotten out of control. We’re jumping on the right now.

We know already that there’s a hundred and five day time limit on these quotes. They’ve already gone up since we got these quotes, but she agreed to extend it.

This is last month’s quote. It’s already higher.

She’s agreed to hold this pricing, and hopefully we’ll get 105 days. Tomorrow, if we purchase the next day, that will potentially get just in time to pay out of this year’s budget. So it’s a real race to get it done.

Aaron Kostyu: Servers, memory, and massive price increases driven by the AI industry, 2026-05-11 –Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, @ Lowndes County Commission

I can attest to massive price increases. My main laptop needs new memory. They same stick I bought a year ago for $72.95 now costs $414.00. I’m making do with less memory for now.

The industry driving these price increases is the same that wants to build massive hyper-scale datacenters.

https://wwals.net/issues/datacenter

• 6.e. Replacement of Three Servers

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/ktIDZ5bHiaI

For the rest of that May 11 meeting, see the post by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE): Videos: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Work 2026-05-11.

http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25691

The Lowndes County Commission votes tonight at 5:30 PM. There is nothing about datacenters on the agenda, but you can speak for five minutes in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard.

1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for appoval, 2026-05-11 –Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE @ Lowndes County Commission

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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https://wwals.net/donations/

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