Topic
15 articles
India's push to become an AI powerhouse is colliding with local resistance, as data centers built to fuel the boom draw massive amounts of electricity and water. The standoff in Mumbai reflects a broader challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's technology ambitions.
Goodman Group is facing growing criticism over what is described as its largest data center project in Japan, just days after canceling a similar development in Sydney due to local opposition. The scrutiny highlights the challenges the Australian property giant faces in expanding data center infrastructure in developed markets.
Finland's environmental watchdog has ordered work to stop at two Google data center sites in Muhos and Kajaani, saying mandatory environmental impact assessments have not been completed. The move follows an investigation into whether hundreds of hectares of forest were cleared without proper review.
President Donald Trump called on communities across the US to welcome data centers, asserting they will create jobs despite growing bipartisan opposition over electricity and water consumption. He argued that rejecting the facilities would make areas obsolete and poor, while China would benefit from the shift.
Malaysia is intensifying its drive to attract both domestic and foreign investment in data centers, leveraging surging global demand driven by the rise of artificial intelligence. With favorable geography, improved telecom infrastructure, and supportive policies, the country aims to emerge as a key Southeast Asian hub and rival regional leaders like Singapore.
Plans for a Microsoft-G42 data center at Olkaria near Lake Naivasha have raised concerns among residents about pressure on already strained water resources. The project is still in the design phase, with no specific water consumption figures disclosed.
Kioxia Holdings Corp. announced on July 24 a net profit of 842.17 billion yen ($5.2 billion) for the three months through June, a 46-fold year-on-year increase, driven by strong sales of memory chips to data centers as AI demand soars. The company's flagship NAND flash memory products exceeded market expectations, and it plans to expand capacity to meet rising AI and cloud computing needs.
Residents in Arizona are fiercely opposing large data center projects, arguing they will strain already scarce water and electricity resources amid a severe drought. Two major complexes, Project Blue in Tucson and Marana, have sparked protests and legal challenges, with activists warning of heat-island effects and higher utility bills.
Foreign tech corporations are making massive investments in data centers and AI across Africa, raising questions about how much control continental governments have over digital infrastructure. The debate shifts from AI adoption to ownership and governance, as countries negotiate terms with global players. Africa's underrepresentation in data center capacity and energy challenges complicate efforts to secure digital sovereignty.
