Ambitious 170 km long Saudimegacity 'The Line' has scope slashed and may be repurposed as AI data center hub — futuristic desert city was set to house 9 million people, and showcased polarizing sci-fi design

Saudi Arabia is reportedly scaling back its ambitious Neom Megaproject, 'The Line,' potentially repurposing it as an AI data center hub due to delays and overspending. The original plan envisioned a 170 km linear city housing 9 million people with futuristic features like no cars and 100% renewable energy. The project's downsizing aligns with the country's economic challenges and aims to prioritize national objectives. The revised concept will focus on industry and AI, leveraging the Red Sea for cooling in the hot climate. Saudi Arabia's push for AI development includes receiving AI GPUs from Nvidia for state-sponsored data centers.