Jeff Bezos Predicts Gigawatt Solar-Powered Space Data Centers Within 20 Years

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, predicts that within the next 10 to 20 years, massive data centers powered by continuous solar energy will be built in space, potentially outperforming terrestrial centers in efficiency and cost. He highlighted that space-based data centers would benefit from uninterrupted solar power without weather interruptions, and the cold environment of space would simplify cooling, addressing the rising energy and cooling demands driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Bezos sees this shift as a natural progression following the use of satellites for communication and weather, though he acknowledged challenges including high launch costs, maintenance difficulties, and the risks of rocket launches. This vision reflects the increasing interest from major tech companies in alternative data center locations due to the soaring energy consumption of Earth-based facilities. Bezos compared the AI surge to the early internet boom, urging optimism about AI's societal benefits despite risks of speculative bubbles. His vision aligns with broader trends in space infrastructure development and the ambitions of his aerospace company, Blue Origin.