Does Scotland really need more AI data centres?

On the latest episode of The National Podcast, we're kicking off our new series of monthly debates with this topic taking centre stage.

In the first edition, Editor Laura Webster is joined by musician and journalist Pat Kane and campaigner Coll McCail for a debate on the growing number of AI data centre applications in Scotland.

It comes after The National ran an in-depth series investigating data centres, including who owns them, who they are for, and what happens next.

Developers argue that Scotland is the ideal place to build these centres due to the country's energy resources.

However, proposals have sparked major backlash, with local communities raising concerns over the environmental impacts of these centres and the number of jobs they will create.

The debate looks at concerns around who ultimately owns these data centres, the need for constructive national guidance, and whether the sites will deliver jobs for local communities.

Future debates on The National Podcast will focus on topics from the royal family, to the optimal route to independence, to what we should do about Scotland's oil and gas resources. Stay tuned for those over the next few months.

In the mean time, remember you can join us live on YouTube on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and listen to The National Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.