In the ancient text "Shijing," a bird weaves its nest using mulberry tree roots. Recent developments in U.S. elections and China's data center construction evoke this imagery. In the U.S., rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) computing is leading to political tensions over electricity and water usage, as well as job changes. This turmoil appears to be a boon for China, which is boldly laying the industrial groundwork for the AI era by expanding its data centers and power grids according to its long-term plans.
The Trump administration introduced policies last July to accelerate the construction of data centers and power facilities, prompting major tech companies to invest heavily in AI infrastructure. However, residents in areas where these facilities are planned have raised concerns about rising electricity costs, water usage, noise, and environmental impacts. In the recent midterm elections, 76% of respondents in an NBC News exit poll opposed building new data centers in their communities. While 56% acknowledged that AI and data centers were significant factors in their congressional voting, this was lower than concerns about government corruption or the cost of living. In 40 out of 41 local votes related to data centers held on the same day, measures to restrict or oppose construction prevailed.
Concerns about AI extend beyond construction sites. A Gallup poll in September found that 27% of American workers worry that technological advancements could render their jobs obsolete, a 7-point increase from the previous year and the highest level recorded. As federal and corporate investments rise, the combination of electricity costs, environmental burdens, and job insecurity has made the distribution of AI's benefits and costs a political issue.
While interests clash over data center construction in the U.S., China is steadily advancing its national plan initiated in 2022. The strategy, known as Dongsu Seosan, aims to shift some data processing demands from the eastern regions to the western areas, where power and land are more abundant. China has designated eight national computing hubs and ten data center clusters, enhancing high-speed communication networks and power facilities. Just as railroads and power grids were established during the industrial era, China is building a vast "data Great Wall" to integrate computing resources nationwide.
According to the National Data Bureau of China, as of late July, the country's intelligent computing capacity reached 2.45 million petaflops (PFLOPS). The computing capacity established in the eight national computing hubs and three power-computing cooperation zones accounts for over 85% of the national total. Additionally, 1.45 million petaflops fall within the observation range of national monitoring and adjustment platforms. The 15th Five-Year Plan also emphasizes the construction of a national integrated computing network. China is enhancing its system for allocating and utilizing computing resources across regions while expanding the quantity of data centers.
The divergent paths of the two countries stem from their differing political and economic systems. In the U.S., corporate investment plans are subject to local opposition, government approvals, and elections. In contrast, China's central government sets long-term directions, with local governments and businesses executing these plans. The ability of residents to influence national projects through elections is more limited in China, making it easier to maintain policy continuity. When discrepancies arise between facility locations and demand, it is solely the government's responsibility to rectify them.
South Korea is also accelerating its national AI infrastructure development. A national AI computing center, jointly promoted by the government and private sector, broke ground in Haenam in August, aiming to establish a capacity of 15,000 advanced AI semiconductors by 2028. This initiative shares similarities with China's Dongsu Seosan, as it seeks to utilize renewable energy and ample land to create computing hubs outside the capital region. Moving forward, securing stable power supply and communication networks, along with efficient utilization of computing resources by businesses and research institutions, will be crucial.
In the process of securing infrastructure for advanced industries, regional interests also pose significant challenges. In Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a project is underway to supply industrial water at a scale of 1.072 million tons per day to two semiconductor industrial complexes. Farmers near the Ansung Gosam Reservoir, where treated water from the Yongin semiconductor cluster will flow, have expressed concerns about the impact on agricultural water quality. In Goyang City, conflicts among residents have arisen over the construction of data centers. On November 6, Im Yoo-jin, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Urban Environment Committee, urged the establishment of common site criteria and resident consultation procedures at the provincial level, beyond individual city responses. The benefits of advanced industries and the burdens of electricity, water, and environmental impacts transcend administrative boundaries, making it impossible to resolve these issues solely through individual city approvals.
"Miuju Mu" means to prepare before the rain falls. The U.S. is only inspecting its nest after the rain has poured, while South Korea is still before the storm. It is essential to transparently disclose electricity and water usage and environmental impacts, gather wisdom, and have metropolitan governments negotiate and adjust the burdens shared by various regions. Additionally, benefits commensurate with the costs and losses borne by local areas must be established. When Haenam's computing resources translate into industrial competitiveness and Gyeonggi Province's conflicts yield collaborative outcomes, the nation's AI investments can realize greater value. The foundation of an AI powerhouse must be built on a long-term vision that anticipates the future, meticulous and stable policies, and the trust and support of the people. The nest must be woven while the skies are clear.
Author's Key Background
▲ Research Fellow at the AI Research Lab, Gyeonggi Research Institute ▲ Adjunct Professor at Hanyang University, Department of Strategic Information ▲ Member of the Local Government Special Committee of the Presidential Committee on Basic Social Affairs ▲ Evaluator for Overseas Institutions at the Economic and Social Research Council.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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