Meta Announces Construction of Several Gigantic Data Centers

What Happened?

This week Meta announced the construction of several massive new data centers in the United States. One of the new data centers, named Hyperion, is nearly the size of Manhattan, and according to Meta will be able to scale up to 5 Gigawatts of power over the next five years. Another large data center named Prometheus will come online in Ohio in 2026.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a statement saying the new data centers will be designed to help create the world’s first superintelligence, and that Meta will spend ‘hundreds of billions of dollars’ to accomplish that goal.

Why it Matters

The new data centers under construction by Meta could have major impacts in both cyber space and the physical world. Physically, the new data centers not only require a lot of electrical power, but they are also projected to consume millions of gallons of water per day, which in some locations is already putting a strain on local resources. In cyber space, the creation of a superintelligent AI could transform the way the economy works.

According to Lawrence Bonk of Engadget, the physical impact of enormous new data centers is already being felt in communities across the country. For example, one mega data center outside Atlanta has damaged local wells and caused municipal water prices to increase. The price of water in the region is projected to go up by as much as 33 percent in the next two years.

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Data centers constructed in water scarce locations can create even more problems, and Phoenix, Arizona is an example. The data center there is already straining the power grid in the Phoenix area, where demand for electricity surges during summer months due to increased heat. 

In cyber space, it remains unclear if Meta is using the term superintelligence interchangeably with general intelligence. To date no AI programs have reached the level of general intelligence, which means they could function in a manner similar to the human mind. The most popular AI programs today are large language models such as Chat GPT, which can provide answers to questions posed to them by users online.

Though Meta hasn’t shared specifics on the concept of superintelligence, statements by CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicate that the idea is to create an AI that is not just as capable as a human, but more so. The quest to create an AI intelligence that is superior to human intelligence has long been a staple of science fiction, but Meta hopes it has the resources to turn the concept into science fact. 

How it Affects You

There are two significant questions about the new data centers being financed by tech companies like Meta. The first is, can they really create AI that is superintelligent or equal to human intelligence. The second and much more important question is if they succeed, what will those companies do with their creations? If Meta succeeds it could transform the way people use the internet and how the economy functions.