What's the big deal about AI data centres?

One of the most discussed topics in recent times concerns precisely the rapid and frightening growth in demand for data centers to maintain and support the various artificial intelligence systems that already exist and those that are yet to come. This technology is sadly unstoppable at the moment; rather, it seems to be characterized by a constant and endless race for novelty, for updates, for the achievement of a “better” state.

However, in order to continue to “function,” AI needs space, content, and energy; and it is precisely this insatiable need that characterizes the current race to build data centers. Between now and 2029, it is estimated that approximately $3 trillion will be spent on this infrastructure, with half of this amount going toward construction costs and the other half toward hardware.

The costs mentioned are already quite terrifying, yet they represent only the economic expenditure, without even introducing the impossible energy requirements to power these centers. We have already reached a point of no return in terms of the environmental state of our planet, and this energy expenditure will dangerously worsen the current situation.