How to stop data centers from grabbing too much power
The rapid expansion of data centers has become one of the most tangible expressions of the artificial intelligence revolution. But debate about their environmental, economic and social impact threatens their future development. And rightly so. Although the digital economy is often seen as weightless, every cloud service and AI application depends on massive physical infrastructure that takes up…
Data centers, a physical manifestation of the digital age, are expanding rapidly alongside the growth of artificial intelligence. While this technological progress is undeniable, concerns about their environmental and social impacts are mounting, potentially limiting their future growth.
The digital economy, seemingly intangible, relies on substantial physical infrastructure that demands significant land, energy, water resources, and investment. This dependency is evident in the data center industry, which is growing at an unprecedented rate. International examples underscore this trend, with data centers consuming 21% of Ireland's electricity in 2023, potentially increasing to 32% this year.
In the United States, the situation is projected to worsen, with data centers' share of energy demand expected to triple from 4% in 2023 to 12% by 2028. This shift has sparked political and public debates. According to a Gallup poll, 71% of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their local communities due to concerns over energy and water usage.
Beyond environmental worries, data centers also raise local issues such as increased traffic, noise, and potential job market disruptions. Research suggests these impacts could pressure local economies and communities, further fueling the controversy surrounding data centers.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- How to stop data centers from grabbing too much power koreatimes.co.kr
