Centers

Guardian analysis finds facilities to be built in some of the driest areas as outcry grows over water needed to power AIA record-shattering drought has racked much of the US. But the artificial intelligence industry is pushing ahead regardless, with the majority of planned datacenters set to be built in drought-ridden locations, a Guardian analysis has found.About two-thirds of upcoming datacenters, which typically require a large amount of water to operate, are set to be built in places that have been among the driest in the country over the past year. Continue reading...

Kristen Gonzalez, a state senator who authored the bill, said moratorium would target ‘hyperscale’ datacenters over 20MWNew York moved closer toward becoming the first US state to enact a moratorium on large datacenters this week. On Thursday, the state legislature approved a one-year ban on the facilities powering the AI boom.The measure now heads to Kathy Hochul, the governor, who will decide whether to sign it into law. The Guardian spoke to a state senator in the wake of the historic vote about authoring the bill and the wider US backlash against datacenters. Continue reading...

Measure expected to pass next week represents major rebuke to big tech as local disquiet over AI boom growsSeattle’s city government is on the verge of passing a year-long ban on the construction of new datacenters, the largest city yet in the US to consider such a moratorium as nationwide backlash grows.Four companies sought to build five large datacenters in areas serviced by Seattle’s public utility; if approved, they would have consumed approximately a third of the city’s current daily demand for electricity. Continue reading...

While many US city councils have passed moratoriums, Monterey Park is first where residents have voted on a banSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailResidents in Monterey Park, California, became the first in the US to vote on a permanent ban on datacenters on Tuesday, and early results indicate a resounding victory for the prohibition.While many cities and counties have already passed temporary or indefinite moratoriums via their local governments, Monterey Park would be the first to do so through a ballot initiative. Continue reading...

• The European Union has approved an overhaul of its migration policy focused on increasing deportations and establishing detention centers in non-EU countries. • At least five nations, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Greece, are currently negotiating "return hubs" in Africa based on Italy's existing model with Albania. • The policy allows member states to form bilateral agreements with third countries to host these centers, a move critics have compared to the Trump administration's immigration strategies.

• SoftBank is investing billions of dollars to construct multiple AI data centers in France, targeting a total capacity of up to five gigawatts. • The initiative leverages France's existing technology ecosystem, accelerated government approval processes, and strategic access to the European electricity grid. • This move is significant as it aligns SoftBank with Mistral, a leading European AI company developing its own powerful foundation models.

• SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son announced plans to invest $87.5 billion to develop AI data centers in France. • The decision follows a meeting between Son and French President Emmanuel Macron during the leader's visit to Tokyo in April. • France was selected as the primary location due to its status as an energy exporter, which is critical for powering energy-intensive data centers.