Desert Silicon: The Gulf's Data Center Dilemma

Desert Silicon: The Gulf's Data Center Dilemma
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While the world chases the green tech wave, the Middle East is constructing its digital future on sands that could shift anytime. Are they building data empires or digital mirages?

Amidst the shimmering dunes, a technological race unfolds as Saudi Arabia and the UAE vie for AI supremacy, building vast data centers in the relentless desert heat. Their goal?

To transform oil-rich economies into global tech powerhouses by harnessing AI's potential. Yet, this ambition faces unique challenges: extreme temperatures threatening sophisticated data centers and a burgeoning rivalry that echoes louder than diplomatic denials.

As both nations amass AI capabilities and court international tech giants, the real question looms: Can they surmount environmental and geopolitical hurdles to become true digital dominions, or are these ambitious plans mere mirages in the desert? And as they push forward, one wonders: Is the race for AI innovation overshadowing the urgent need for sustainable and ethical technology practices?

Read the full article on Bloomberg.

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Dr Mark van Rijmenam

Dr Mark van Rijmenam

Dr. Mark van Rijmenam, widely known as The Digital Speaker, isn’t just a #1-ranked global futurist; he’s an Architect of Tomorrow who fuses visionary ideas with real-world ROI. As a global keynote speaker, Global Speaking Fellow, recognized Global Guru Futurist, and 5-time author, he ignites Fortune 500 leaders and governments worldwide to harness emerging tech for tangible growth.

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