# 649: Burned by AI

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/linux-unplugged/649-burned-by-ai
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/linux-unplugged/649-burned-by-ai.md
Podcast: [LINUX Unplugged](https://stenobird.com/podcast/linux-unplugged)
Published: 2026-01-12T03:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://linuxunplugged.com/649
Audio file: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/24370176-072c-4bde-b7c2-96b60e488189.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIgljdXJsBjoGRVQ%3D--435795d5c850773aaa4739d968bd77a1dfd6f301
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/linux-unplugged/episodes/649-burned-by-ai
Duration seconds: 4510

## Resource

Rising SSD and HDD prices are creating a storage crisis for homelabbers and data centers alike. We explore survival strategies ranging from aggressive data pruning to a retro-inspired approach using Blu-ray cold storage.

## Highlights
- Main idea: The 'storage apocalypse' is driven by AI infrastructure demands and supply chain shifts, leading to massive price spikes in high-capacity NVMe drives
- Practical takeaway: Aggressive data pruning and deleting unused datasets can be a viable way to extend the life of existing NAS hardware
- Failure mode: Relying solely on modern high-capacity drives without a secondary, low-cost cold storage strategy may become prohibitively expensive
- Practical takeaway: Using optical media like Blu-ray via new Rust-based tools can provide a cost-effective, long-term archive for non-critical data
- Main idea: Open-source tools like BlueVault and Kopia are essential for managing modern backups and legacy physical media archives

## Topics

Linux, SSD Prices, Data Storage, Homelab, Cold Storage, Blu-ray, Rust Programming, Data Archiving, Backup Software

## Chapters
- 6:30 — Predicting the Desktop: A brief look back at past predictions regarding the evolution of the Linux desktop environment.
- 11:55 — The SSD Price Spike: An analysis of recent price increases in high-performance NVMe drives, noting some models have jumped 80% in cost.
- 17:15 — Survival via Deletion: Discussing the necessity of aggressive storage management and deleting old data to avoid expensive hardware upgrades.
- 22:50 — The Used Market Strategy: Exploring the potential of buying refurbished or bulk-resold enterprise drives to mitigate costs.
- 34:25 — BlueVault: Blu-ray Archiving: An introduction to a new Rust-based TUI tool for managing multi-disc Blu-ray archives on Linux.
- 1:02:55 — Modern Backup Tools: Evaluating the benefits of Kopia for cross-platform, encrypted, and deduplicated backups.

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## Transcript

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