Just a moonshot? Google energy head claims data centers in space would cost up to 100x more than on Earth (www.techradar.com)

Google's global head of data center energy, Amanda Peterson Corio, has raised concerns about the feasibility of space-based data centers, stating they could cost up to 100 times more than Earth-based facilities. Her remarks come on the heels of Google's Project Suncatcher prototype launch, which successfully demonstrated an AI chip operating in orbit. Despite this technological achievement, Corio emphasizes that terrestrial data centers face more significant hurdles, primarily related to permitting and grid connections rather than power availability. She advocates for exploring ground-based solutions before pursuing costly extraterrestrial alternatives. The implications of Corio's statements are profound for the AI and ML community, particularly as companies like SpaceX eye orbital computing as a potential game-changer. The viability of space data centers is currently debated, especially as financial models suggest enormous costs associated with deploying them. As interest in orbital computing rises, so too does scrutiny around the technology's practicality and return on investment. With critics like Corio, alongside industry supporters, the future of AI computation in space remains uncertain, highlighting a crucial intersection of technology, economics, and policy.