Foreign media commentators believe that the debate surrounding AI data centers is no longer just about energy and community development, but is also being discussed within the framework of national security. Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula wrote that future warfare will increasingly rely on data storage, transmission, processing, and security capabilities, and a shortage of computing power could have serious consequences.
Military systems rely more on computing power
The article states that the Pentagon's future goal of connecting long-range munitions, advanced fighter jets, space systems, missile defense, and drones will all require large-scale data infrastructure. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into intelligence analysis, target identification, and operational coordination, data is no longer just a commercial resource but is also considered a strategic asset.
Deptula believes that the key to competition on the future battlefield lies in who can perceive, judge, and act faster. This means that the military needs to continuously process massive amounts of intelligence, reconnaissance, cyber, logistical, and operational data, and also needs sufficient computing power to train and run relevant AI systems.
Iran and Ukraine were cited as examples.
This commentary cites recent conflicts as evidence. The article mentions that the war with Iran demonstrates that AI can integrate multi-source information and quickly generate target-related judgments. The report also notes that in the early stages of the conflict, the US and Israel used AI platforms from companies like Palantir to strike thousands of targets.
The author also mentions the changing use of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield, noting that more and more systems are incorporating autonomous technologies, which is seen as a signal of the further expansion of AI in future warfare.
Data centers may also become targets.
The article also mentions that Amazon's data centers in the Middle East were attacked by Iran in the early stages of the war. The author argues that data infrastructure itself is becoming an extension of state power and could become a direct target in conflict.
However, the commentary also points out that opposition to AI data centers and their associated power infrastructure is increasing within the United States. Some communities oppose new projects, and rising electricity prices are attributed by some voters to the increased electricity demand generated by AI data centers, gradually turning related construction into a political issue.
The article argues that this resistance could slow the pace of U.S. expansion of its data infrastructure. Deptula also warns that China is rapidly catching up and has demonstrated its ability to concentrate its infrastructure development. If the U.S. loses its lead in data centers and computing power, its future advantage in military competition could also be eroded.
