Amazon founder Jeff Bezos recently presented a forecast for the future of data infrastructure, envisioning the construction of gigawatt-scale data centers in space within 10 to 20 years. Speaking at Italian Tech Week, Bezos argued that these orbital facilities would ultimately outperform Earth-based centers, benefiting from uninterrupted 24/7 solar power availability, unhindered by atmospheric conditions. He suggested that such developments are part of a broader trend of utilizing space to enhance life on Earth, similar to current weather and communication satellite applications.
Bezos also drew comparisons between the current growth in artificial intelligence and the internet boom of the early 2000s, urging optimism despite potential speculative risks. The concept of space-based data centers has gained attention amid increasing electricity and water demands from terrestrial facilities for cooling. However, Bezos acknowledged several challenges, including the high cost and inherent risks of rocket launches, as well as the complexities of maintenance and upgrades in an orbital environment.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/data-centres-in-space-jeff-bezos-says-its-possible-10288519/