NTIA Requests Comment on AI-Driven Demand for Data Centers

Meeting the demand of AI-driven data center growth is critical to U.S. “competition, leadership and security,” NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said Wednesday. NTIA issued a request for comment to better understand data center issues related to the power grid, supply chain, workforce development and cybersecurity. The demand for data centers is rapidly growing in relation to demand for machine learning systems, he said: There are more than 5,000 data centers in the U.S., and demand is projected to grow by 9% percent annually through 2030. AI machine learning systems will have “enormous benefits” for the economy, he said. “Right now, we know we do not have enough data centers in the U.S.,” and NTIA wants to “chart a path forward to meet that demand in a sustainable way, and realize the full potential of the AI revolution to the benefit of all.”