{
  "id": 17117107,
  "title": "Proposed underwater AI data centers could disrupt endangered whale species",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/proposed-underwater-ai-data-centers-could-disrupt-endangered-whale",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-29T20:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/were-deeply-concerned-underwater-ai-data-centers-proposed-for-maine-and-alaska-but-critics-say-they-could-endanger-whale-species"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DeepGreen, an artificial intelligence firm, has proposed constructing data centers underwater in two key locations off the coasts of Maine and Alaska. The purpose behind this innovative concept is to ensure optimal cooling and efficient operation of the data centers. However, this idea has raised serious concerns about the potential impact on endangered whale species. The two proposed sites, Western Passage in Maine and Upper Cook Inlet in Alaska, are both vital habitats for endangered whale populations. The Gulf of Maine in Maine and the Upper Cook Inlet in Alaska are designated as critical habitats for the North Atlantic right whale and the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, respectively. Building these massive data centers would generate significant noise pollution, which could disrupt the vital echolocation used by whales for feeding, navigation, and social interactions. Furthermore, the extra heat produced by the data centers could force the whales away from their usual feeding grounds, as cold-water prey may become scarce due to temperature changes. This potential harm to endangered species has not gone unnoticed by researchers and the public. Critics, such as Cooper Freeman from the Alaska Center for Biological Diversity, have strongly condemned the proposal, calling it \"outrageous\" and expressing deep concerns over the potential harm it could bring to the fragile ecosystem. Similarly, Reddit users have expressed their outrage, deeming the idea \"evil\" and questioning the feasibility of underwater data centers in the long run. With the escalating energy consumption of AI data centers and the need for significant cooling, the underwater data center concept appears to offer a temporary solution to the cooling problem. However, the unintended consequences of this plan, particularly the threat to endangered whale species, have sparked debates on whether there are more ethical alternatives to pursue.",
  "summary": "An AI company wants to build two underwater data centers that could negatively impact endangered whale populations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}