Technology leaders are turning their attention to outer space to solve a growing energy crisis caused by artificial intelligence (AI), which consumes vast amounts of electricity. As the demand for AI grows, there are concerns that power grids on Earth will not be able to supply enough energy.
To address this, figures such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are proposing the construction of massive AI data centers in orbit or on the moon, WSJ reports (open copy).
On Earth, weather and night cycles interrupt solar energy collection, but space allows for direct and constant access to the sun. Furthermore, the cold vacuum of space could help cool the hot computer servers, and there are fewer regulations to slow down construction compared to building on land.
Future plans for orbital computing
While the cost of building in space is currently high, analysts suggest it could become a viable business model within the next decade. The urgency is driven by projections that AI companies will soon need hundreds of gigawatts of power. For comparison, one gigawatt is roughly half the energy produced by the Hoover Dam. In response to these needs, major corporations are taking initial steps.
Google has announced a project to launch test satellites by 2027 to experiment with machine learning in orbit. Elon Musk is exploring ways to use rockets to deploy satellites equipped with lasers to create space-based data networks, WSJ reports. Musk has proposed a future scenario where a base on the moon manufactures solar-powered satellites and launches them into orbit to harvest energy. While these ideas may seem distant, they represent a serious effort to ensure that the expansion of technology is not limited by a lack of electricity on Earth.
Ars Technica has a recent article on AI data centers in space. "Simply scaling up Starlink V3 satellites, which have high speed laser links would work," Musk posted in a reply. "SpaceX will be doing this."
In related news, the European Space Policy Institute has stated that Europe must develop a strategy for space-based data centers.