Adopt This Data Center Plushie and Hear Its Piercing Scream

The Bezzy doll is a whimsical stuffed plushie created by Basura, a New York-based creative studio, and Big Data, a musical project by producer Alan Wilkis. This joint project, "Adopt a Data Center," aims to introduce people to the concept of living near data centers in a playful and memorable way. Data centers are large facilities built by AI companies to power their growing AI tools, but they have come under fire for their high energy consumption and environmental impact.

The Bezzy doll, resembling a server rack with oversized limbs and googly eyes, is designed to be both cute and irritating. When squeezed, the plushie emits a piercing recording taken from a neighbor's property in Virginia, capturing the high-pitched hum of a nearby data center. The tag on the doll reads, "Hug me for ear-piercing forever hum."

Rajeev Basu, the founder of Basura, chose this particular recording for its clarity and infuriating nature. Basura has a history of creating quirky projects, such as luxury pet wear and shoes designed to break apart to plant wildflowers. The "Adopt a Data Center" endeavor also includes a set of stickers promoting awareness and encouraging community involvement.

The project stems from numerous interviews with residents near data centers across the US. The website's slogan, "Adopt a data center: All they ask for is everything," reflects the project's satirical approach. Wilkis, known for his band Big Data, notes that the backlash against data centers is bipartisan, highlighting the link between AI, wealth inequality, and the physical embodiment of this issue in data centers.

Due to the limited availability of just 20 Bezzy dolls sold for $99, the project aims to spark conversations about the impact of data centers on communities and the environment, rather than focusing on whether they should exist.