- New data centers are offered through the United Kingdom
- These are crucial for the development and use of AI, but have disastrous impacts on the environment
- Technology giants call for more expansion
The United Kingdom could be set for a major increase in the number of data centers across the country, as new reports say that an increase in construction should begin.
The country currently has 477 of these data centers – with approximately 100 others on the way, the Bbc Reports, stimulated by the massive increase in AI demand, and often funded by American technology giants.
However, the impact on the local environment could be devastating – in the United States, some living close to data centers have lost access to drinking water, as local wells have been disrupted, and some consumers have seen energy bills increase thanks to the extreme use of centers.
The cloud costs
Data centers are essentially warehouses full of computer storage systems and IT infrastructure – and they are both financially expensive and extremely consuming energy and water.
A medium -sized data center would consume between around 110 million gallons of water per year in order to cool – and large centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day – but these data centers now receive advanced government protections, after being appointed critical national infrastructure.
Just as these new data centers are under construction – the British government has published advice on how to process the “national” water deficit and drought advice, which includes shorter showers, and not grass and the abolition of old emails.
These data centers have received cash injections from American companies, with up to 6.3 billion sterling pounds paid in the construction and financing of foreign companies so that Great Britain can “train and deploy the next generation of AI technologies”-most of which are developed in the United States.
“Unlocking AI” was a priority for the British government, which encouraged businesses and consumers to use technology to stimulate productivity – but environmental cost, as always, is likely to come across ordinary people.
