Data centers are the biggest real-world examples of AI's impact we have

"AI's impact is still largely unknown, but what's powering its rise is pretty clear. Data centers are the backbone of artificial intelligence, and they are real-world evidence that businesses are betting big on the tech. An AI project can rise and fall without many people noticing. A 50,000-square-foot data center that pops up in your neighborhood is a lot harder to ignore."

"It's not just their sheer size that's tangible. The cost of these data centers, both economically and environmentally, is very real. That's why Business Insider embarked on an investigation to better understand these data centers' impact. That work just earned us a very prestigious award. On Wednesday, BI received the George Polk Award for Environmental Reporting for its investigation into The Trust Cost of Data Centers."

"The investigation was a full newsroom effort, with multiple reporters, editors, videographers, and designers chipping in. From environmental implications to complex financing to neighborhood drama, we covered the topic from all angles. We've also got an incredible video and interactive map worth checking out. Winning an award doesn't mean our work is done. Big Tech companies keep ramping up their spending. Amazon and Alphabet recently announced plans to spend $200 billion and $185 billion, respectively, on AI infrastructure this year."

Data centers serve as the physical backbone of artificial intelligence and provide visible evidence of large corporate bets on AI. These facilities are massive and impose significant economic and environmental costs on host communities. Corporations, notably major tech firms, plan hundreds of billions in AI infrastructure spending. States are competing to attract data-center projects, shifting traditional regional concentrations. Financing for large data-center deals has grown complex, using structures from 100-year bonds to varied securitizations, spreading financial risk beyond technology companies. Rising electricity demand from data centers can increase utility bills and transfer costs onto local ratepayers and taxpayers.

Read at Business Insider