TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.How AI, Energy Requirements Are Shaping Data Center InvestmentHow AI, Energy Requirements Are Shaping Data Center InvestmentAs Microsoft invests $80 billion to build out AI-powered data centers, tech companies face energy challenges in the cost of AI infrastructure.Brian T. Horowitz, Contributing ReporterJanuary 31, 20251 Min ReadTanapong Sungkaew via Alamy StockEarlier this month, Microsoft announced it would invest about $80 billion indata centerspowered by AI. As part of its golden opportunity for American AI, the company willtrain AI models and roll out AI and cloud-based applications with this investment.In FY 2025, Microsoft is on track to invest approximately $80 billion to build out AI-enabled data centers to train AI models and deploy AI and cloud-based applications around the world, wrote Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, in aJan. 3 blog post. More than half of this total investment will be in the United States, reflecting our commitment to this country and our confidence in the American economy.Last year, Microsoft said it would invest more than $35 billion across 14 countries within three years to construct AI and cloud data center infrastructure. It is also collaborating withBlackRock and MGXto form an international investment fund that contributes up to an additional $100 billion for AI infrastructure and the AI supply chain, Smith wrote.Microsoft is all-in on AI much like they were with the cloud, and AI has eclipsed their cloud efforts much like the cloud eclipsed Windows, says Rob Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group, via email.Tony Harvey, a senior director analyst at Gartner, also sees the investment as a sign that Microsoft is committed to AI and must invest to lead the market in this area. He expects Microsofts investments in AI data centers to focus on many large language models (LLMs) and then include AI agents.Read the Full Article on Network ComputingAbout the AuthorBrian T. HorowitzContributing ReporterBrian T. Horowitz is a technology writer and editor based in New York City. He started his career at Computer Shopper in 1996 when the magazine was more than 900 pages per month. Since then, his work has appeared in outlets that include eWEEK, Fast Company, Fierce Healthcare, Forbes, Health Data Management, IEEE Spectrum, Mens Fitness, PCMag, Scientific American and USA Weekend. Brian is a graduate of Hofstra University. Follow him on Twitter: @bthorowitz.See more from Brian T. HorowitzNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports