{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/satirical-bezzy-plushie-lets-users-hear-data-center-noise-for-99","json":"https://digestai.news/story/satirical-bezzy-plushie-lets-users-hear-data-center-noise-for-99.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/satirical-bezzy-plushie-lets-users-hear-data-center-noise-for-99.md","slug":"satirical-bezzy-plushie-lets-users-hear-data-center-noise-for-99","headline":"Satirical 'Bezzy' plushie lets users hear data center noise for $99","summary":"A limited‑edition plush toy called the Bezzy doll is being sold by New York‑based creative studio Basura in partnership with the musical project Big Data, led by producer Alan Wilkis. The stuffed figure resembles a server rack, has googly eyes, and when squeezed it plays a few seconds of a recording taken from a neighbor of a Virginia data center. The sound has been described as a high‑pitched, nonstop car alarm.\n\nOnly 20 dolls are available on the Adopt a Data Center website and the Big Data storefront, each priced at $99. Basura founder Rajeev Basu says the stunt is meant to give people a \"cuddly introduction to life with a real data center\" and to spark discussion about the energy consumption, noise pollution, and community impact of the massive data centers that power today’s AI tools. The campaign includes stickers and links to research on data‑center footprints, positioning the plushie as a satirical hook rather than a commercial product.","keyPoints":["Only 20 Bezzy plushies are offered at $99 each.","Squeezing the doll plays a short, high‑pitched recording from a Virginia data center.","The project aims to raise awareness of AI data‑center energy use and noise impacts."],"whyItMatters":"It spotlights the growing environmental and community costs of AI‑driven data centers, prompting public conversation about where such infrastructure should be placed.","category":{"slug":"society","name":"Society & Work","url":"https://digestai.news/category/society"},"entities":{"companies":["Basura","Big Data"],"models":[],"people":["Rajeev Basu","Alan Wilkis"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-18T13:30:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T13:30:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"Wired AI","title":"Adopt This Data Center Plushie and Hear Its Piercing Scream","url":"https://wired.com/story/adopt-this-data-center-plushie-and-hear-its-piercing-scream","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T13:30:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Satirical 'Bezzy' plushie lets users hear data center noise for $99\", 18 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/satirical-bezzy-plushie-lets-users-hear-data-center-noise-for-99","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Satirical 'Bezzy' plushie lets users hear data center noise for $99","datePublished":"2026-09-18T13:30:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/satirical-bezzy-plushie-lets-users-hear-data-center-noise-for-99"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}