Biden Accelerates AI Infrastructure with New Order

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to accelerate the development of AI infrastructure in the United States by making federal lands available for data centers and supporting clean energy projects to meet their power needs. The order aims to mitigate bottlenecks in energy-hungry data centers, which are projected to surge by 2028, and includes directives for the Departments of Defense and Energy to lease federal sites for AI infrastructure. Companies developing these data centers are required to use American-made semiconductors, aligning with the administration's push for enhanced national security and economic competitiveness. The executive order also seeks to streamline permitting processes, including using 'categorical exclusions' to expedite environmental reviews. While the initiative is seen as crucial for maintaining US leadership in AI, it has raised concerns among environmentalists about potential impacts on climate goals. Additionally, the Biden administration plans to restrict AI chip exports to prevent advanced computing power from reaching China and other rival nations.