1、Navigating the Economic Landscape of Data CentersThe role of data center infrastructure in enabling a digital ecosystem and its economic implications.01IntroductionData centers are the backbone of the digital economy,powering a very energy-intensive Artificial Intelligence(AI)and technology revoluti

2、on.Running digital apps demands advanced hardware,such as specialised electronic circuits that accelerate graphics and image transferring and AI and machine learning(ML)workloads.However,conventional data centers are designed with five to 10 kilowatts per rack as an average density,and AI now requir

3、es 60 or more kilowatts per rack.AI applications also generate far more data than other types of workloads,and thus require significant amounts of data center capacity.About 20%of global data center capacity is already being used for AI.The impact of technology and data infrastructure extends beyond

4、 mere applications and day-to-day online interactions-it also profoundly influences economic development.In the current economic landscape,technology serves as a catalyst for international trade and business.Although the absolute output of international trade is on the rise,the trade intensity,measu

5、red as the percentage of Gross Domestic Product(GDP),is decreasing.Notably,international flows of services are assuming a more significant role in global value chains,emerging as a new driver of globalization alongside digital shifts.The ease facilitated by technological advancements and the digitiz

6、ation in trading services across borders has allowed service providers to access new markets and customers.Looking ahead,forthcoming technological disruptions such as AI and the Internet of Things are poised to further fuel the growth of trade in services.The global generative AI market alone,with a