Why We Should Move AI Data Centers Into Space

[Zkuq]

CaptainExplosion said:

Zkuq said:

I thought we were utilizing district heating to move the heat rather than underground data centers, but admittedly I haven't been following the news that closely. Still, I don't remember seeing any news about underground data centers - it's always above the ground, and we seem to have a lot of news about new data centers these days.

And about what a detriment they are to people and animals.

How would district heating help any of the problems with data centers?

I don't think they're much of a problem to people here. They're usually built far enough from people, I think, and it's a relatively cool climate here anyway. The only major downside of data centers getting publicity here is the potential to increase electricity prices, and even that's just potential so far - not enough data centers to have much effect yet, although there's an initiative to tackle that too. Your mileage may vary, of course, but that's how it seems to be over here.

They're definitely a detriment to nature, but I reckon at least here they don't particularly stand out from other development (at least yet).

District heating helps with the heat island effect, I would imagine, since heat is moved where it's needed instead of left to dissipate into the surrounding nature. It also reduces the need for other methods of heating, which requires energy.