Southeast Asia starts to rethink its AI data centre boom: ‘at what cost?’

AI Summary

Southeast Asian governments are reassessing the rapid expansion of AI data centres, which promise jobs and digital infrastructure but are putting pressure on power grids, land and regulatory capacity. Analysts say policymakers are weighing the costs and pace of investment as the region seeks a foothold in the AI economy.

Southeast Asian governments are learning some hard truths about the data centre boom they spent years working to attract, analysts say – it promises jobs, digital infrastructure and a foothold in the AI economy, but the rapid buildout is also straining power grids, land and regulatory systems. “There is this enthusiasm to attract investments, but now it raises the question: at what cost and at what speed?” said policy researcher Mark Manantan, a research fellow for the Centre for Global Security...