In his final days in office, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at accelerating the large-scale construction of data centers across the country, particularly for the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Under the new directive, the federal government will lease state land for the establishment of infrastructure vital to the nation’s ongoing technological leadership, particularly in AI.

Key Facts

• The executive order requires federal agencies to speed up the creation of large-scale AI infrastructure on state-owned land, with provisions in place to ensure investor responsibility.
• The US Department of Defense and the Department of Energy will each designate at least three sites where the private sector can build data centers.
• Competitive bidding processes will be held for private companies, which will be tasked with covering all costs related to construction and operation.
• Investors will also be required to ensure that the data centers are powered by clean energy to meet their full operational capacity.
• While the federal government will lease the land, companies will retain ownership of the materials and infrastructure they develop on the land.
• The order mandates that the construction of AI-focused data centers on federal land be carried out through public works contracts.

Important Quote

“We must not take our leadership position for granted. We will not allow the United States to be overtaken when it comes to the technologies that will define the future, nor must we sacrifice critical environmental standards and our shared efforts to protect clean air and clean water,” said President Biden.

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Key Story

This move comes just a day after the announcement of new rules governing the sharing of AI chips and models with foreign countries. These regulations aim to control global access to US-developed AI chips and technologies, ensuring that sensitive AI applications remain under US control. The new rules are focused on regulating the export of American-made chips and AI technologies, pivotal to the most advanced AI developments.