The $1 billion investment will see the building of a 33-acre data centre in Hertfordshire with the aim of providing “crucial compute capacity to businesses across the UK, supporting artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and helping to ensure reliable digital services to Google Cloud customers and Google users in the UK and abroad.”
The focus on AI is pivotally important given the developments of AI tools in 2023 and the trends that look set to take shape as AI will become an integral part of daily data operations. The UK declared that AI would form one of the five critical technologies of focus (the others being quantum, semiconductors, telecoms and engineering biology) and it is positive to see that key industry businesses, such as Google, are hearing the message and taking proactive steps.
This investment should mean more resources and opportunities for data professionals and improving the standing of data as a career option for future talent. It has been evident within the DataIQ community that there are growing calls for improved data capabilities across multiple sectors and – perhaps – this investment by Google will spur on confidence in other businesses to follow suit.
With the UK-based approach from Google – and hopefully others – there will be a sigh of relief for those handling data compliance at UK-based organisations, as compliance is always simpler when keeping data within the same location. The topic of data protection in the UK has been a hotly contested topic since the Brexit referendum of 2016 and the rapidly changing landscape of data protection that followed. Perhaps this announcement will be able to provide some long-term stability to data operations within the UK.
There are still other considerations, particularly the environmental impact of giant data centres especially as nations strive for ambitious net zero targets and minimal emissions. It is well-known that data centres are a contributing factor to emissions and an increased demand and pull for electrical resources will add to this issue if sustainability is not considered. However, with further investment in data technologies, it is possible that improved sustainability tools for data centres can be rapidly developed.
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