Huge data centres rise at 'China speed' to power its AI ambitions

yahoo ^ | 09/23/2026 | Lauren Bicker

[BenLurkin]

In the expansive grasslands of Inner Mongolia, farmers are picking plump potatoes alongside new neighbours: huge, rectangular blocks that will fuel China's AI platforms.

Ulanqab, with its steppes and volcanoes, is an unlikely digital frontier. For years, it has been China's official "potato capital". But now its fields have also become construction sites for a slew of data centres, as Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping meet to discuss AI safety among other things.

Hundreds of workers in yellow helmets carry heavy equipment into the building site as welding sparks fly off metal scaffolding. Above them huge cranes move with precision to build rooftops, while men balance on ladders to plaster brickwork.

...

To the Chinese Communist Party, these buildings are critical for the country's economic and national security. Once finished, they will help drive its mission to embed AI across 90% of industries and society by 2030.

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TOPICS: Computers/Internet
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[LegendHasIt]

Well, good.

I hope the data flowing from Mongolian data centers is as filling and nutritious as potatoes.

[LouAvul]

Now that the globalist new world order wants AI (to control and subdue the masses), globull warming is no longer an issue. The irony is thick.

[srmanuel]

Meanwhile here in the US politicians from both sides are claiming AI will kill us all, ruin the environment and sponsoring legislation to slow down, stop or outright kill AI development.

Rhetorically, I ask if there is any connection between China moving ahead with AI development at warp speed and politicians in America trying to kill AI development.

[TLI]

” its mission to embed AI across 90% of industries and society by 2030.””

.

I wonder what will happen to the folks that have those jobs now?

Will ai replace them?

.

[Tell It Right]

China should just put the AI servers in the ghost cities already built, 50 of which are still unoccupied.

[proust]

Have we asked China to slow down? We’re pacing the whatever over here.

[Salman]

Does it really pump their economy ahead of ours,
or does it primarily make it easier for the CCP to keep track of everyone at all times?

[spetznaz]

That is the issue with the whole ‘control AI or else we die’ mantra. Sure, I believe that Super Intelligence definitely has (some measure of) real risk. Both in terms of fundamental changes to some lines of work, as well as more existential risks that the likes of Elon Musk, Geoffrey Hinton, and Joshua Bengio have given stark warnings about.

However, as much as there is (potential for) danger, the fact still remains that Super Intelligence is here to stay, and that if the United States pumps the brakes, then it makes it easier for China (the only other SI power out there) to catch up. Right now they are behind, but the distance has closed from 12-18 months behind to more like 3-6 months behind.

Now, that is still a LONG time when it comes to Super Intelligence, but guess what happens if the USA slows down while China doesn’t?

So, as much as I recognize that there are dangers, the US cannot stop.

In the same way nuclear weapons have inherent dangers, but it would be folly for the US to destroy their nuclear weaponry unless every single other nuclear power did the same to theirs (and even if they did, what guarantee would there be that there are not some atomics hidden in some silo or sub or hangar somewhere?)

China is investing massively into Super Intelligence, and unless there is a spell that can make everyone pause/stop, unfortunately it cannot be a unilateral decision by the States. Yes, there are risks, but the genie is out and (I believe it is President Trump who said ‘whoever wins AI, wins’).