Powering the Future of AI: Ben Gilbert (Acquired) x Chase Lochmiller (Crusoe) talk AI Data Centers

At the 2025 IA Summit, Ben Gilbert of ‪@AcquiredFM‬ sits down with ‪@Crusoe-AI‬ CEO Chase Lochmiller to explore the massive physical infrastructure powering the next generation of AI. Chase shares how Crusoe went from flaring methane to building the world’s most power-dense AI data center — a 1.2 gigawatt "AI factory" in Abilene, TX, supporting cutting-edge workloads for Oracle and beyond.

This conversation dives deep into:
1) How Crusoe is redefining data centers as "AI factories"
2) Why AI changes everything about infrastructure — from cooling to location
3) The shift from 5-nines reliability to modular, energy-first builds
4) The physical reality behind your favorite LLMs
5) Crusoe's journey from Bitcoin mining to powering the future of compute

A must-watch for any founder or builder thinking about what it takes to scale in the era of AI.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Scale and Power Requirements of AI Data Centers
02:13 Job Creation and Construction Progress
03:29 Creative Solutions and Manufacturing Capabilities
04:43 Modular Design and Infrastructure Optimization
06:00 Data Center Construction and Assembly Process
07:25 Technical Infrastructure and Cooling Systems
08:51 Power Sourcing and Renewable Energy
10:14 Wind Energy Utilization and AI Infrastructure
11:34 AI Workload Flexibility and Energy Considerations
12:56 Entrepreneurial Journey and Company Evolution
14:29 Background in AI and Transition to Data Centers
16:09 Early Business Model and Bitcoin Mining
17:32 Infrastructure Evolution and Future Outlook
19:34 Cloud Platform Services