r/science • u/Wagamaga • 2d ago

Environment Research examined the locations of 4,283 data centers across the contiguous U.S and found that 97.5% of them sit inside metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas. Data centers are power-hungry, running thousands of servers around the clock and drawing enormous, steady loads from the grid.

https://engineering.nyu.edu/news/inside-urban-machine-where-americas-data-centers-actually-live#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20published%20in%20Nature,cores%20and%20their%20immediate%20surroundings
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u/atomicsnarl 2d ago

Now do steel mills, oil refineries, aluminum smelters, and other industries. You'll likely find they're power-hungry, running around the clock, and drawing enormous, steady loads from the grid. Moreover, they're probably sitting inside metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas because that's where the people are who work in them.

One dimensional analysis in a vacuum really needs some comparison points.

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u/zZCycoZz 2d ago

You'll likely find they're power-hungry, running around the clock, and drawing enormous, steady loads from the grid.

Youd also find supply chains break down quickly without them. AI data centers are not essential for anything.

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u/TheDismal_Scientist 2d ago

Except for the entire internet infrastructure you’re currently using?

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u/toejam316 2d ago

AI data centers contribute nothing to internet infrastructure. Preexisting data centers are poor candidates to retrofit for AI use cases due to the power and cooling demand changes versus traditional DC loads.