How much heat does an AI data centre produce, and where are they located?

Tech giants are racing to build the infrastructure that powers artificial intelligence. But a growing body of evidence suggests that AI hyperscalers – large-scale cloud service providers like Google, Amazon and Microsoft – are warming the ground around them as well. A study [ PDF ] by Cambridge-led researchers found that land surface temperatures around AI data centres rise by an average of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), with some areas recording increases as high as 9C (16.2F). …