Data centers in Ireland are consuming vast amounts of electricity, exceeding that of all urban homes and contributing to soaring household costs. This growth, fueled by AI, is raising environmental concerns and serving as a cautionary tale for other nations.
Ireland's booming data centre sector, driven by AI, now consumes more electricity than all urban homes, leading to soaring household costs and environmental concerns. Experts warn this rapid growth outstripping renewables could serve as a global cautionary tale.
SK Telecom and Nvidia partner to build a gigawatt-scale AI cloud and AI factory in South Korea by 2027, leveraging Nvidia's DSX platform for end-to-end AI operations.
Biwin has signed a locked-volume, locked-price deal to buy enterprise-grade chips from Q3 2026 to Q2 2028. The contract, valued at 12.6 billion yuan, aims to secure medium- to long-term capacity and reduce supply disruption risks.
AI hyperscalers are causing land surface temperatures around their data centers to rise by an average of 2C, creating 'data heat islands'. This phenomenon affects over 340 million people within 10km of these facilities, raising concerns about community welfare and environmental sustainability.
Australia's Assistant Minister for the Digital Economy, Andrew Charlton, is urging the nation to learn from the mistakes of the resources boom and establish clear terms for the burgeoning AI and data centre sector. He proposes a 'triple lock' system requiring new renewable energy supply, full cost recovery for infrastructure, and grid cooperation to manage the significant energy demands.
OpenAI reported that Chinese propagandists attempted to use its ChatGPT chatbot to generate opposition to Donald Trump's tariffs and influence debates on data centers and AI. The campaign, active in late 2025 and early 2026, had minimal impact but highlights AI's role in digital influence.
Bill Gates warns AI industry against raising household power bills with data centers. He notes 48 projects worth $156B were blocked in 2025, and public opposition is rising, forcing companies to seek community "permission" beyond permits.
China has approved licenses for 166 foreign companies to pilot value-added telecommunications services, including internet data centers and information services, in select zones. Analysts believe this move offers opportunities for multinationals but will likely have a limited impact on the domestic market due to existing competition and pilot zone restrictions.
India is exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to meet the growing demand for reliable power in its defence and data centre sectors. A policy dialogue highlighted SMRs' potential for clean, uninterrupted electricity, crucial for mission-critical operations and energy security, while addressing cost, regulation, and safety.
India's data centre industry is expanding rapidly, fueled by AI and cloud demand, leading to significant land acquisitions and new infrastructure corridors beyond traditional hubs like Mumbai. Over $100 billion in investments are transforming the digital economy and real estate landscape.
SoftBank plans a €75 billion investment in 5 GW of AI data centre capacity in France, with initial €45 billion by 2031 for 3.1 GW in Hauts-de-France. The project aims to support AI demand and create thousands of jobs.
As AI computing demands outpace traditional copper interconnect capabilities, photonics (light-based tech) gains investment and attention for its lower-loss optical links, with China's Yuanjie Technology seeing an 11x stock surge.
Residents in NSW's Southern Highlands are devastated by plans for three gas-fired power stations to fuel a data centre. They fear health impacts, environmental damage, and the locking in of heavy industry, while clean energy advocates warn of setting a dangerous precedent.
AI titans seek stable bases for data centers in Australia. The article proposes an "AI sovereign wealth fund" modeled on Norway's oil fund, demanding a share in profits from AI models trained in Australia to benefit creators and displaced workers.
Data centre leasing in Hong Kong is supported by hyperscale CSPs, Chinese tech firms, and financial institutions, though AI demand faces technical limits. Malaysia, Australia, and India lead regional growth in live capacity.
China has launched the first commercial offshore wind-powered underwater AI data centre near Shanghai. The facility uses nearly 2,000 servers and seawater cooling, powered by offshore wind turbines, aiming for high energy efficiency and reduced land/water use.
Nvidia's CFO expressed uncertainty about generating revenue from China despite US license approvals for H200 shipments, as the company excludes China data center compute revenue from its outlook.
The UAE is accelerating its AI strategy with the delivery of advanced Nvidia chips, aiming to become an AI hub for the Global South. Despite regional conflicts, the nation is investing in US tech and developing its own AI models, adapting to threats against its data centers.
Southeast Asia is exploring a nuclear energy revival, with China emerging as a strong partner. Leveraging its extensive domestic experience and the Hualong One reactor design, China offers advanced technology and energy security to the region.
Asia-Pacific’s commercial property investments surged in the first quarter, according to data tracked by analysts, as early signs of recovery in office and retail segments across Hong Kong and mainland China boosted deal volumes. Total investment in offices, retail spaces, industrial units, data centres, hotels, apartments, senior housing and other asset classes climbed 22 per cent to US$51.1 billion from the same period in 2025, data from MSCI showed. Hong Kong contributed US$1.8 billion, a 367...
Beijing is moving to make green electricity usage a key metric in the operation of new data centre projects, as part of a major push to align the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence with national carbon goals, according to an action plan released Friday. The policy document, jointly released by four bodies – the National Energy Administration, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Data Administration – encouraged operators...
From decade-long grid queues to facilities running at half capacity, a new study exposes the energy crisis at the heart of Europe's push to boost its AI capabilities.
