AI companies look to the ocean as a place to put more data centers

Underwater data centers will accumulate sea life, like this Microsoft data center testing module, which in two years underwater attracted algae, barnacles and sea anemones. Microsoft

The artificial intelligence boom is driving unprecedented demand for data centers, raising concerns about their growing energy consumption, water use and carbon footprint. These challenges are making companies look beyond traditional land-based data centers.

Some developers are now exploring the ocean as a new location for AI infrastructure in the hopes that underwater data centers could improve energy use and cooling efficiency while using less fresh water and land area than onshore buildings.