Let's build AI data centers in space | Philip Johnston

The future of AI development may lie beyond Earth, driven by the increasing demand for data centers. Philip Johnston argues that the energy and cooling requirements of AI necessitate a shift to space-based data centers. He points out that current projections estimate the need for 50 to 100 new nuclear power stations in the US alone to support AI's energy demands, a goal made difficult by permitting and resource constraints. Launching data centers into space bypasses the need for permitted land and battery storage, and it harnesses more solar energy. Johnston suggests that space-based solutions could mitigate global competition for Earth's finite resources, potentially reducing international tensions and conflicts.