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When <keyword id="20747437" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pokmon-Go" source="keywords">Pokémon Go</keyword> hit the app stores in 2016, millions of players took to the streets to capture virtual Pokémon in <keyword id="19900656" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="augmented-reality" source="keywords">augmented reality</keyword> (AR). But behind the scenes, players unknowingly became contributors to something much bigger: a powerful <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> (AI) model designed to map the physical world. <h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Mapping the world, one PokéStop at a time</h2><keyword id="20054960" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Niantic" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Niantic" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Niantic">Niantic</keyword>, the developer of Pokémon Go, recently revealed that it has been using data gathered from its AR games to create a Large <keyword id="24105791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="geospatial-model" source="keywords">Geospatial Model</keyword> (LGM). This AI model will allow robots and other devices to navigate and interact with the physical world — even with limited data. The announcement, made in a blog post on November 12, disclosed that the company has used over 10 million scanned locations worldwide to train its model, with players contributing 1 million new scans each week. “In our vision for a Large Geospatial Model (LGM), each of these local networks would contribute to a global large model, implementing a shared understanding of geographic locations, and comprehending places yet to be fully scanned,” wrote Eric Brachmann, Niantic staff scientist, and Victor Adrian Prisacariu, Niantic chief scientist. This massive AI effort is powered by Niantic’s Visual Positioning System, which can pinpoint the exact position and orientation of an object using just a smartphone camera image — accurate to within 0.4 inches. <h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">From gaming to <keyword id="20256621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="robotics" source="keywords">robotics</keyword></h2>The LGM project is no small feat. Just as <keyword id="19897804" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Large-Language-Models" source="keywords">Large Language Models</keyword> (LLMs) like ChatGPT use vast amounts of text data to predict words, LGMs use geospatial data to infer what buildings and environments look like, even imagining parts of a scene that haven’t been fully scanned. This capability could make LGMs invaluable in fields ranging from robotics and <keyword id="20562351" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="autonomous-vehicles" source="keywords">autonomous vehicles</keyword> to AR glasses and content creation. As Brachmann and Prisacariu noted, the technology enables machines to not only perceive physical spaces but also interact with them in groundbreaking ways. <h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">A cause for concern?</h2>While many Pokémon Go players have shrugged off the news, others are more skeptical. Critics fear that such technology could have unintended or harmful applications, including use in surveillance or even military operations. Elise Thomas, a senior intelligence analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, voiced her concerns on X: “It’s so incredibly 2020s coded that Pokémon Go is being used to build an AI system which will almost inevitably end up being used by automated weapons systems to kill people.” Niantic’s LGM reflects a growing trend: the blending of entertainment and AI research. While the technology promises to unlock new possibilities, it also raises ethical questions about privacy, consent, and the future uses of such data. For Niantic, the data scraping was possible because users willingly scanned their surroundings through the game. These scans were part of AR features that players engaged with, from battling at gyms to exploring PokéStops. But few players likely realised they were helping train a system with potential implications far beyond gaming. The question remains: should users be more aware of how their data is used? And where should companies like Niantic draw the line between innovation and transparency?

Remember going crazy over Pokémon Go in 2016? Turns out, you were training AI all along!

As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/can-ai-be-a-solution-to-the-climate-crisis-2023-5">Luccioni</a> shows me a digital map that tabulates real-time data on electricity consumption and carbon intensity, she explains it's her "favorite website."Her enthusiasm carries over into her role as AI &amp; Climate Lead at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hugging-face-open-source-ai-approach-2023-12">Hugging Face</a>, where Luccioni collects actionable data on AI's environmental impact.She has her work cut out for her, especially as companies like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-nvidia-robots-huamanoid-self-driving-cars-2024-9">Nvidia</a> and Google, which design AI chips, become more secretive about their proprietary offerings."The difficulty is that there's this race to secrecy," Luccioni said. "Since ChatGPT came on in November 2022, companies have really cracked down on how much information they share about their models."Luccioni codeveloped and regularly contributes to <a target="_blank" href="https://codecarbon.io/">CodeCarbon</a>, a program that helps developers estimate emissions and energy use from running AI models. Luccioni says tens of thousands of people have cited the program. She's most proud of how it allows technologists to act on their concern for the environment and benchmark against actual data.Meta recently used the tool to estimate emissions from running one of its <a target="_blank" href="https://huggingface.co/meta-llama/Meta-Llama-3-8B">latest Llama models</a>."Where the energy is coming from is really the biggest impact on emissions," Luccioni said. "The issue is that most supercomputers, be it Google Cloud, Azure, or AWS, are located in places that are not powered by renewable energy, mostly natural gas and coal, and that makes a huge difference."One of her latest projects should make it less opaque to understand how much energy and computing power popular AI models and tools use. This work, done with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, is expected to eventually help establish an energy-efficiency rating standard for AI models. She likens it to an<a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=4eff6049c33f6535f47c8f7e8ac1b3b733fd4f8c291fd482d249faf13be5d56f&amp;postID=66faf5cee5b54083003ce06c&amp;postSlug=sasha-luccioni-hugging-face-ai-power-list-2024&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-02680-3"> Energy Star rating</a>."The EPA adopted this trust-based approach, but in the case of AI it would be a bit harder to adopt that approach because there are so many variables," she said. "You have to define specific data sets and specific hardware to compare these models."As <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-value-estimate-20-trillion-tech-wave">AI's value soars, possibly into the trillions,</a> Luccioni's work will help document the tech's toll on electric grids and, ultimately, the environment."You train a model once, but you deploy for a while. Even quantifying the amount of energy per query or per day is really powerful," Luccioni said. "In the long term, it really adds ups."See Business Insider's full <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/ai-power-list-2024">AI Power List</a>

Sasha Luccioni tracks data about AI's impact on the environment

Billionaire <keyword id="19929098" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gautam-adani" source="keywords">Gautam Adani</keyword>'s group will supply <keyword id="19914923" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="clean-energy" source="keywords">clean energy</keyword> to power Google's cloud services and operations in India, the two firms said on Thursday. <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Adani Group">Adani group</keyword> will supply 61.4 megawatt of electricity from a new <keyword id="21342349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="solar-wind-hybrid-project" source="keywords">solar-wind hybrid project</keyword> located at its 30 gigawatt (GW) Khavda renewable energy park in Gujarat. Google powers most of its cloud operations and services through electricity procured from the grid and is planning to run the entire operations on clean energy by 2030. Adani is expected to start commercial operations in the third quarter of 2025. At the '<keyword id="23413952" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-for-India" source="keywords">Google for India</keyword>' event, the search giant also announced a partnership with CleanMax for sourcing 125.4 MW of clean energy to power its offices and cloud regions in India. Of the contracted volumes, 66 MW solar energy will come from Rajasthan and 59.4 MW wind energy from Karantaka. "These projects are expected to start commercial operations in Q4 2025 and will deliver <keyword id="22243112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon-free-energy" source="keywords">carbon-free energy</keyword> to the grid where Google operates offices and cloud regions in India," Google said. While Google made the announcement at the 'Google for India' event here, the Adani Group gave details in a statement. "Through this partnership Adani will supply clean energy from a new solar-wind hybrid project located in the world's largest renewable energy plant at Khavda, Gujarat. This new project is expected to start commercial operations in the third quarter of 2025," the Adani group statement said. This innovative collaboration will help advance Google's 24/7 carbon-free energy goal by ensuring cloud services and operations in India are supported by clean energy and thereby contribute to the <keyword id="20289318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-growth" source="keywords">sustainable growth</keyword> of Google in India. Adani had previously announced plans to set up data centres run on clean energy. It had in October 2022 leased 4.64 lakh square feet of space at its data centre in Noida to Raiden Infotech, an entity of Google.

Adani to supply clean energy for Google's cloud operations in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Airports are looking to private wireless networks to improve operations, execs said at MWC Las Vegas.</li><li>Passengers could see benefits like smoother baggage claim and check-ins, the panelists said.</li></ul>Private wireless networks are key to ushering in a better airport experience for both the travel hubs' operations and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/busiest-airport-world-atlanta-dubai-tokyo-heathrow-dallas-list-ranking-2023-12">the billions of passengers who pass through them</a>.That's according to airport executives who spoke on a panel about connected aviation Tuesday at the trade show <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mwc-las-vegas-2024-5g-ai-mobile-communications-conference-2024-10">Mobile World Congress Las Vegas</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/las-vegas-private-5g-network-2023-9">Private networks</a> generally offer greater security and reliability, lower latency, and higher bandwidth compared with public networks. For these reasons, they can help airports with operations and communications, plane and baggage tracking, and security.California's Ontario International Airport, for example, is using a private wireless network to run its perimeter-intrusion detection system, Charles Miwa, the airport's chief information officer, said."As I think about a future with a lot of growth, private wireless is foundational. It's going to enable us to accommodate these ad hoc moves," he said, emphasizing the need for flexibility given how often many airports do some form of construction to update their infrastructure."We're trying to run more efficient airports, more customer-friendly airports," said Michael Youngs, the vice president of information technology at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which last year announced a $10 million deal with AT&amp;T for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-frequency-is-5g">private 5G network</a>."We're not going to do it with people. We're not going to do it with brick and mortar. We're going to do it with technology, with IoT, but we need that base foundational level of connectivity, private wireless, that's going to enable it," he added, referring to the Internet of Things.Private wireless networks can also help enterprises with cost and mobility by reducing the expense of installing cables and by providing connectivity to areas that might be harder to reach with wires."We traditionally at the airport, especially, do not put anything very secure across wireless. We just don't do it," said Kyle Mobley, the director of information technology at the Port of Oakland, which operates the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. "And it's not because we have any proof it's going to be less secure in the way we do it. It's the what you don't know."Mobley added: "Having this infrastructure wirelessly is huge." Mobley spoke of using private wireless for passenger traffic sensors, for example."It's tough to keep sending people out in the field to investigate things at 2 o'clock in the morning," he said. "And we cover such a wide area that getting these sensors — lidar, cameras, whatever it ends up being — in every corner of our property is huge to give that person working that desk the ability to know what's going on. Do I have a squirrel running up the fence, or is it somebody? The squirrel will sometimes send 10 cars out there, and that's not very efficient."Roughly 58% of airports worldwide that participated in the survey are investing in major development programs for a 5G communications network, and another 29% have research-and-development programs for the tech by 2026, said the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sita.aero/globalassets/docs/surveys--reports/2023-air-transport-it-insights-v6.1.pdf">2023 Air Transport IT Insights</a> report from SITA, an IT and telecommunications service provider for the aviation industry, and Airports Council International.As for passengers, they might see benefits like quicker <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-to-do-when-an-airline-loses-your-luggage-2022-7">baggage claim</a> or smoother check-ins."I'm not really looking to be in the private-wireless business — I feel like I have to be in the private-wireless business," Youngs said. "I need to harness data to take our airport forward. That's really the end game."

Airports are investing in private wireless networks to improve operations and travelers' experience

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The number of people working part-time but say they would rather work full-time is rising.</li><li>The labor differential between those who think jobs are plentiful versus hard to get is falling.</li></ul>Recent data shows easing inflation and a steady decline in <keyword id="20067533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jobless-claims" source="keywords">jobless claims</keyword> in recent weeks, but the <keyword id="19986584" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="labor-market" source="keywords">labor market</keyword> and the economy aren't out of the woods, <keyword id="23071655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BCA-Research" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BCA Research" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BCA Research">BCA Research</keyword> says. The firm's chief global strategist, Peter Berezin, pointed to two low-key labor market indicators flashing warning signals this month. The first, the number of people working part time but would rather be working full time, has "started rising meaningfully," Berezin said in a Monday note. The number rose to 4.83 million in August, an almost 6% increase from July and a roughly 14% increase from the year prior, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released earlier this month. Historically, that number has always increased in the early stages of a recession, Berezin says. "Could this time be different? I am open to the idea. But I think the onus is on the soft landers to show why. So far, I have not seen any convincing evidence," he said. Meanwhile, recent survey data shows a narrowing gap in positive and negative labor market sentiment. The labor differential, which measures those who think jobs are plentiful versus those who think they are hard to get, fell 3.3 points to 12.6 in September, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.conference-board.org/topics/consumer-confidence">data</a> from the Conference Board released Tuesday. That's "well below" pre-pandemic numbers, and below the 2019 average of 33.2, Berezin said in a Tuesday note. On average, the peak in the labor differential comes nine months ahead of a recession, Berezin says. But this time around, its flashing closer to a rapid slowdown as the labor market pivots to showing weak labor demand via higher unemployment, rather than just slower wage growth and lower job openings. "I suspect that it has taken much longer this time around because until recently, the economy was operating along the steep side of the labor supply curve," Berezin said. The recent warning signs come two months after Berezin <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-crash-prediction-2025-decline-fed-fails-avoid-recession-2024-7?_gl=1*19uo0cc*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNzI2OTMwOC4xODMuMS4xNzI3MjcwMzIyLjE1LjAuMA..">cautioned investors over a coming recession</a> to hit the US economy later this year or early next year. He seems to be sticking with that prediction, despite "being told that the labor market is strong and that the recent rise in unemployment reflects positive developments – namely, that more people are joining the labor force." He says the data points to the contrary, with a slowdown in year-over-year labor force growth from 1.9% a year ago to 0.4% in August. "How is it that all these new joiners were able to easily find jobs back then but cannot do so now? The only plausible answer is that labor demand has slowed," he said. He says most of that increase in unemployment comes from people losing their jobs. The number of people who are unemployed because they lost their job has risen by 0.21 percentage points from a 12-month low. If history is any indication, that rise likely points to a recession. "There has never been a case over the past 50 years where this metric has increased by more than 0.20 percentage points without a recession occurring," he said. Correction: September 26, 2024 — This story was updated with a more-precise BLS figure for the year-over-year increase in August in the number of people who were working part time but would rather have been working full time. The increase was roughly 14%.

2 under-the-radar recession signals are flashing red this month, research firm says

<ul><li><keyword id="19896911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Jio" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword> has become the world's largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic.</li><li>The total traffic on the <keyword id="2003276" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jio" source="Orion">Jio</keyword> network has reached 40.9 Exabytes, marking a 35.2 per cent year-on-year increase.</li><li>This surge is attributed to the growing adoption of <keyword id="19916120" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="5G" source="keywords">5G</keyword> and Home services.</li></ul>Reliance Jio, the telecom giant of India, has become the world's largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic, surpassing <keyword id="20669190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="China-Mobile" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="China Mobile" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="China Mobile">China Mobile</keyword>. The announcement came on Monday as Jio revealed its quarterly results, showcasing staggering numbers and milestones achieved in various segments. As of March 2024, Jio boasts a subscriber base of 481.8 million, out of which 108 million subscribers are on Jio's True5G Standalone network. The number reflects Jio's stronghold in the Indian telecom market. According to a press release, the total traffic on the Jio network has reached 40.9 Exabytes, marking a 35.2 per cent year-on-year increase. This surge is attributed to the growing adoption of 5G and Home services. Notably, 28 per cent of the traffic comes from 5G subscribers, indicating a swift transition towards next-generation connectivity. Additionally, Jio's Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services have contributed significantly to the data traffic. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic 2.4x increase in annual data traffic, with per capita monthly data usage skyrocketing to 28.7 GB from just 13.3 GB three years ago. This surge underscores the growing reliance on digital connectivity in India. Commenting on the results, <keyword id="3820" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="Orion">Mukesh Ambani</keyword>, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited, expressed his satisfaction with the company's performance and its contribution to the Indian economy. He highlighted the significant achievements, including becoming the first Indian company to cross the Rs 100,000-crore threshold in pre-tax profits. Ambani said, "Initiatives across RIL's businesses have made a remarkable contribution towards fostering growth of various sectors of the Indian economy. It is heartening to note that alongside strengthening the national economy, all segments have posted a robust financial and operating performance. This has helped the Company achieve multiple milestones. I am happy to share that this year, Reliance became the first Indian company to cross the Rs 100,000-crore threshold in pre-tax profits." Ambani also emphasized Jio's role in driving the digital transformation in India, from upgrading 2G users to smartphones to leading the effort in producing AI-driven solutions. He noted, "With over 108 million True 5G customers, Jio truly leads the 5G transformation in India. From upgrading the hitherto 2G users to smartphones, to leading the effort of producing AI-driven solutions, Jio has proved its capability in strengthening the nation's digital infrastructure." He reiterated Jio's commitment to strengthening the nation's digital infrastructure and its continued efforts to provide innovative solutions to consumers. The company's retail arm, Reliance Retail, also showed robust growth, with a 36 per cent increase in footfalls and strong digital commerce platforms offering a broad brand catalogue. "Reliance Retail continued to provide customers endless choices through its robust omni-channel presence. We continue to offer product differentiation and superior offline experience through stores remodelling and revamping of layouts. Our digital commerce platforms also provide newer solutions to users with a broad brand catalogue. Reliance Retail also works towards strengthening millions of merchants through its unique initiatives in new commerce space", said Ambani. In addition to its telecom and retail segments, Reliance Industries Limited has shown resilience in its Oil to Chemicals (O2C) segment, despite challenging market conditions. The KG-D6 block has achieved significant production milestones, accounting for 30 per cent of India's domestic gas production. Ambani emphasised, "Strong demand for fuels globally, and limited flexibility in refining system worldwide, supported margins and profitability of the O2C segment. Downstream chemical industry experienced increasingly challenging market conditions through the year." He added, "Despite headwinds, maintaining leading product positions and feedstock flexibility through our operating model that prioritises cost management, we delivered a resilient performance. The KG-D6 block has achieved 30 MMSCMD of production and now accounts for 30 per cent of India's domestic gas production." In terms of financial performance, Reliance Jio has achieved several remarkable milestones. The consolidated EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) at Rs 178,677 crore, while the consolidated Profit Before Tax (PBT) has surpassed Rs 100,000 crore. The company's market capitalization has crossed Rs 20,00,000 crore, further solidifying its position as one of India's most valuable companies. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank">Google Pixel 8a may be more expensive than its predecessor, as per a new leak</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vodafone-idea-fpo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-and-more/articleshow/109504341.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vodafone-idea-fpo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-and-more/articleshow/109504341.cms" target="_blank">Vodafone Idea FPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank">Telecom companies may hike tariffs by up to 17% after the general elections, predict analysts</a>

Reliance Jio emerges as World's largest mobile operator in data traffic, surpassing China mobile

Foster is the chief data officer of the US Central Command. Centcom, which heads US military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia, has been testing out AI and computer-vision applications for the Department of Defense and adding tech talent to support its missions. Foster, part of Business Insider's 2024 AI Power List, previously helped develop big data and AI applications at several technology companies with US defense contracts, including CrowdAI and Maxar Technologies. He's also served as an intelligence officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and as an officer in the Air Force.See Business Insider's full <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/ai-power-list-2024">AI Power List</a>

Michael Foster, US Central Command chief data officer, uses AI to make an impact on defense

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Electricity and labor headwinds slow Amazon's data center buildout.</li><li>The company's predicament highlights challenges faced by the broader cloud industry.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-big-tech-cash-king-wall-street-wants-a-piece-2024-10">Amazon</a> is spending heavily on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">data centers</a> to support booming <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-sales-machine-aws-google-microsoft-pressure-pay-speed-2024-9">AI</a> workloads, putting it on pace to build 240 new facilities by 2040, according to one estimate.These plans are increasingly running into physical constraints that are slowing the buildout, according to an internal document, people familiar with the matter, and emails obtained through a public-records request."Across the AMER region, we are experiencing headwinds in power, zoning and permitting, water, and workforce/labor that are providing challenges to our long-term capacity growth," the internal document stated, referring to the Americas market, Amazon's largest.As the biggest cloud provider, Amazon's predicament highlights broader <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">problems</a> facing the tech industry as generative <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-sales-machine-aws-google-microsoft-pressure-pay-speed-2024-9">AI</a> upends the status quo. While more companies want access to cloud computing for AI initiatives, there's only so much power, water, and labor available to support these services.It's not just an Amazon problem. Sequoia Capital general partner David Cahn recently predicted data center delays across the sector."The need for more power and a better functioning grid was clear before AI," he wrote in a blog post. "Now, it is becoming urgent."<h2 id="4e19455f-0a20-458d-a775-e305cc9aed23">Energy demand is growing</h2>It may be natural for a company like Amazon, one of the largest and fastest-growing data center operators, to face these challenges when it is expanding at breakneck speed.Marc Wulfraat, president of consulting firm MWPVL, told BI that Amazon is probably rolling out even more than 240 data centers in coming years. That's because the cloud giant also leases space in buildings shared with other companies. Collectively, this building spree amounts to almost 75 million gross square feet of space, according to his estimates. That's the equivalent of roughly 27 Empire State Buildings.In an email to BI, Amazon's spokesperson said customers' energy demand "continues to grow," and the company is continuously working on ways to "efficiently build and operate data centers" to meet their needs."Nobody knows better than we do that building data centers is exceptionally complex, and by embracing that challenge, we've become really good at it over the years," the spokesperson added. "We're confident we can continue to build at a rapid pace to provide the cloud capacity our customers will need."<h2 id="3ffef594-735b-4945-a7b0-176832400209">Doubts about electricity supply</h2>Power might be the most scarce resource. US data center electricity consumption is forecast to triple by 2030, according to <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bcg-on-energy_the-impact-of-genai-in-electricity-activity-7112787574032674816-uDEX/">Boston Consulting Group</a>, much of it to power generative AI. Bernstein Research recently <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-centers-us-power-grid-gpu-nvidia-cerebras-amazon-2024-7">estimated</a> that electricity demand for AI data centers could exceed supply in just two years without action.At Amazon, electricity shortages have been a major concern and a topic of almost every leadership meeting in recent years, according to the people familiar with the matter.Amazon is experiencing power-supply issues in Oregon, Ohio, and Northern Virginia, according to the internal document from May. For example, it noted that PacifiCorp, Amazon's Portland-based utility partner, has electricity shortfalls and generation constraints forecasted until 2030.This is leaving Amazon with unpredictable energy supply in some markets and a possible loss of "bridging" solutions that help maintain power during the early stages of construction."With the utility power headwind, we are seeing continued risk driven by transmission constraints as well as unexpected changes to committed/available generation, gaps in promised vs delivered incremental power, and potential loss of bridging power as utility infrastructure projects are delayed," the document explained.<h2 id="e085ef5b-5190-4456-935c-6cab05b23795">'Zombie' data centers</h2>In some markets, so-called "zombie" data centers exist. That's a term used by some Amazon employees who spoke with Business Insider about the electricity-supply problems.These facilities are also described internally as "operationally blocked" because the data centers can sometimes sit idle as they don't have access to enough power to run them, according to the people familiar with the matter.Amazon's spokesperson told BI the company is not familiar with these terms, but said there are a "very small number of cases" where the company decides to complete data center construction before building power is available. "These situations are all managed as part of the standard course of business," the spokesperson added.<div type="image" title="AWS CEO Matt Garman" height="4320" width="6751" msid="114502575" hostid="261" sizebytes="742626"></div>Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman recently spoke publicly about challenges related to AI data center buildouts, including accessing enough GPUs and power.During a podcast interview in August, he said customer demand is "mind boggling," which is requiring "a lot of investment.""We're probably going to be tight for the next little bit of time," Garman added.<h2 id="d47a3f17-b6c1-4c0c-91d9-5918b3a4761f">'Mosquitoes to light'</h2>The company is on the hunt for more energy. It's conducting "power studies" with utility partners to evaluate additional transmission capacity, which could result in more power allocation, according to the internal document.The company is also working on ways to reclaim stranded and retired power, the document said, likely in reference to the practice of redeveloping old power plants that have become inactive for economic or sustainability reasons.Amazon has been more actively seeking partnership opportunities with third-party colocation data center providers, one of the people said. At these facilities, Amazon would simply lease space, transferring the need to secure power to the data centers' owners.Additionally, Amazon has started looking beyond well-established data center markets, such as Northern Virginia and Arizona, and is expanding into newer regions like Indiana. Crowded data center regions are running out of power and other resources, making newer locations <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-centers-energy-cloud-microsoft-chatpgt-amazon-google-2023-7">more appealing</a>.The company is also more aggressively pursuing alternative energy sources. Last week, Amazon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-invests-in-nuclear-for-aws-following-google-and-microsoft-2024-10">unveiled</a> a plan to lead a $500 million funding round to develop small modular nuclear reactors, following an earlier announcement to purchase a nuclear power plant in rural Pennsylvania."It's almost like mosquitoes to light — we are attracted to power," one of the people familiar told BI.Amazon's spokesperson said the company's data center expansion strategy considers several factors, including system resiliency and latency, the availability of renewable energy, and the local government's long-term commitment. Amazon is also constantly seeking ways to make its data centers more energy efficient by using carbon-free resources, in-house processors, and natural air cooling systems, the spokesperson said.<h2 id="82c2fbef-48d1-4af8-8635-cf74ee12697d">Higher costs in Silicon Valley</h2>In some cases, Amazon is paying higher prices to get its new data centers up and running.One example is an Amazon facility in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. For the last 2 years, Amazon has held talks with the city of Santa Clara to secure power for a new data center located near Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://santaclara.granicus.com/player/clip/2140?view_id=1&amp;meta_id=190407&amp;redirect=true">city council meeting</a> held in July.Amazon is in talks for a 15-year, 20-megawatt proposal for this facility under the condition that the company pays the full cost of the energy, whether it uses the power or not, Manuel Pineda, the chief electric utility officer of the City of Santa Clara, said during the meeting. Amazon will have to pay up to 50% higher rates than normal and will be entitled to additional "financial assurances" to cover any contractual risks, Pineda added.As part of the deal, Amazon also plans to use the 20-megawatt power agreement for a second building on-site, which currently has no electric capacity, according to Pineda.Amazon's spokesperson told BI that this arrangement has not been finalized, and the project is progressing as expected.<div type="image" title="AWS Santa Clara data center planning slide" height="586" width="1056" msid="114502585" hostid="261" sizebytes="101810"></div><h2 id="5e7acce5-2a9c-4e0c-873a-74b683e1b0a3">Amazon escalates Santa Clara delays</h2>Amazon appears to be dealing with further delays in Santa Clara. On August 28, an AWS employee wrote to a city official about another facility, a former Owens Corning factory the company purchased in 2023. The email discussed delays at the site and noted that the problems are raising concerns internally at Amazon."Delays as significant as this unfortunately impact our ability to serve our customers which has resulted in escalation," said the email, which was obtained by BI through a public-records request.The next day, another Amazon employee wrote to a Santa Clara city official. "This is time sensitive," the staffer said. "AWS executives are highly concerned about the constant push in the results."<h2 id="a5ae3cc3-4484-42c7-a232-b1135b2bd3e0">'Straining' water infrastructure</h2>Another problem is water supply. A growing number of data centers rely on water instead of air to cool the servers and other equipment inside the facilities. This liquid-cooling technology <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-running-out-of-water-data-centers-blame-microsoft-google-2023-6">requires a lot of water</a>.Amazon is "straining local jurisdictions' existing infrastructure" for water in some regions and is "dependent on long-term infrastructure upgrades or building our own solutions" to mitigate the issue, the internal document stated.There are zoning and permitting problems, too. Some local jurisdictions are not supporting the re-zoning of industrial property for data center use and have stricter environmental regulations, the document explained. Amazon is "working proactively" with local municipalities to solve these challenges, as they can impact its "future capacity options," the document added.Amazon is "one of the world's most water efficient operators" and its data centers are much more water efficient than the industry average, the company's spokesperson told BI.<h2 id="74b62895-25bd-411f-8890-035613989c55">'Lack of available skilled labor'</h2>An even bigger problem may be a lack of skilled electricians to build and run these data centers, according to the internal document and people directly involved in these Amazon projects.Electrical work is a major part of data center construction. But Amazon has struggled to find enough people to do the jobs, especially in rural areas, these people said. Amazon has talked to local colleges, general contractors, and labor unions in certain markets to increase the supply of electricians, one of the people said.<div type="image" title="amazon data center oregon" height="3072" width="4608" msid="114502582" hostid="261" sizebytes="883326"></div>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/27/americas-demand-skilled-electricians-boom.html">shortage of skilled electricians</a> is a growing industry problem. According to last year's <a target="_blank" href="https://datacenter.uptimeinstitute.com/rs/711-RIA-145/images/2023StaffingSurvey.Report.12152023.pdf">Uptime Institute Data Center Staffing Survey</a>, more than half of respondents said they struggled to fill open positions due to demand outstripping supply."For workforce/labor, we are seeing a lack of available skilled labor," Amazon's internal document stated. "Which requires us to prioritize where we allocate these resources, and we are becoming increasingly reliant on more expensive travelling [primarily] electricians."Amazon's spokesperson shared <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/our-upskilling-2025-programs">blog posts</a> detailing its <a target="_blank" href="https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/workforce-development/aws-fiber-optic-fusion-splicing/">training programs</a> in this space, adding, "AWS has established a number of workforce development programs and collaborations with education institutions to help ensure a strong pipeline of talent."Do you work at Amazon? Got a tip?Contact the reporter, Eugene Kim, via the encrypted-messaging apps Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a>) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a>). Reach out using a nonwork device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide</a> for other tips on sharing information securely.

Amazon's AI data center dream runs into the reality of 'zombie' facilities, higher costs, and labor shortages 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A rare bee species reportedly threw a wrench in Meta's plans for an AI data center.</li><li>Meta planned to build a facility to run on nuclear power, but the bees complicated matters, FT said.</li></ul>In <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-happy-spending-big-ai-2024-10">the race to build out AI infrastructure</a>, Meta met an unlikely roadblock in one case: bees.A rare species of the insect threw a wrench in the company's plans for an AI data center, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ft.com/content/ed602e09-6c40-4979-aff9-7453ee28406a">the Financial Times</a> reported Monday.Meta had been in talks with a nuclear power plant operator for a US data center to support <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-meta-nvidia-h100-chip-cluster-llama-4-2024-10">the company's AI work</a>, per the FT. However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an all-hands gathering that the discovery of the bee species at a location next to the planned plant was partly responsible for upending the plans, the FT reported, citing two people familiar with the meeting.Regulatory challenges were also a factor, according to the FT. The newspaper didn't name the power plant operator or say where the site was set to be. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-stock-earnings-report-call-live-updates-2024-10">Meta said in its latest earnings report</a> that it expects "a significant acceleration in infrastructure expense growth next year" and "significant capital expenditures growth in 2025," owing in no small part to its work on AI.Meta isn't the only tech giant spending big on infrastructure for its AI ambitions. Rivals, including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, also invest billions in data centers to power their AI. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-nuclear-power-ai-data-centers-2024-10">Last</a><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-nuclear-power-ai-data-centers-2024-10"> month, Google announced a partnership to buy nuclear energy</a> from small modular reactors to be built by Kairos Power, making it the first tech giant to broker a deal for new nuclear power plants.Amazon plans to spend about $150 billion on data centers by 2040, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-28/amazon-bets-150-billion-on-data-centers-required-for-ai-boom?embedded-checkout=true">reported</a> in March. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-data-centers-delays-costs-power-labor-shortages-aws-ai-2024-10">The company could roll out as many as 240 new data centers by 2040</a>, Marc Wulfraat, the president of the consulting firm MWPVL, previously told BI, citing the massive square footage at the company's disposal by way of its leasing space in buildings shared with other firms.In September, Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with energy company Constellation in a deal that would <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/three-mile-island-nuclear-plant-reopens-power-microsoft-ai-push-2024-9">bring back online part of Three Mile Island</a>, the site of the US's worst nuclear energy accident.The boom in data centers to power AI also comes with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-generative-ai-environment-climate-change-global-emissions-2023-9">high costs environmentally</a>, not just financially. In the US, data centers are expected to reach 35 gigawatts of power consumption annually by 2040, up from 17 gigawatts in 2022, according to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/investing-in-the-rising-data-center-economy">McKinsey analysis</a>.Meta did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

A rare bee species reportedly put an end to Meta's plans for a nuclear-powered AI data center

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (<keyword id="41780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iisc" source="Orion">IISc</keyword>) have developed a brain-inspired analog computing platform capable of storing and processing <keyword id="6355729" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data" source="Orion">data</keyword> in an astonishing 16,500 conductance states within a molecular film. Published on September 11 in the journal Nature, this breakthrough represents a huge step forward over traditional digital computers in which data storage and processing are limited to just two states, the IISc s<keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ai" source="Orion">ai</keyword>d. In a press release, the institute said that such a platform could potentially bring complex AI tasks, like training Large Language Models (LLMs), to personal devices like laptops and smartphones, thus taking us closer to democratising the development of AI tools. These developments are currently restricted to resource-heavy data centres, due to a lack of energy-efficient hardware. With silicon electronics nearing saturation, designing brain-inspired accelerators that can work alongside silicon chips to deliver faster, more efficient AI is also becoming crucial. "Neuromorphic computing has had its fair share of unsolved challenges for over a decade," explained <keyword id="23122611" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sreetosh-goswami" source="keywords">Sreetosh Goswami</keyword>, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc, who led the research team. "With this discovery, we have almost nailed the perfect system - a rare feat," he said. According to IISc, the fundamental operation underlying most AI algorithms is quite basic - matrix multiplication, a concept taught in high school maths. But in digital computers, these calculations hog a lot of energy. The platform developed by the IISc team drastically cuts down both the time and energy involved, making these calculations a lot faster and easier. The molecular system at the heart of the platform was designed by <keyword id="23122609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sreebrata-goswami" source="keywords">Sreebrata Goswami</keyword>, Visiting Professor at CeNSE. As molecules and ions wiggle and move within a material film, they create countless unique memory states, many of which have been inaccessible so far. Most digital devices are only able to access two states (high and low conductance), without being able to tap into the infinite number of intermediate states possible. By using precisely timed voltage pulses, the IISc team found a way to effectively trace a much larger number of molecular movements, and map each of these to a distinct electrical signal, forming an extensive "molecular diary" of different states. "This project brought together the precision of electrical engineering with the creativity of chemistry, letting us control molecular kinetics very precisely inside an electronic circuit powered by nanosecond voltage pulses," explained Goswami. "Tapping into these tiny molecular changes allowed the team to create a highly precise and efficient neuromorphic accelerator, which can store and process data within the same location, similar to the human brain. Such accelerators can be seamlessly integrated with silicon circuits to boost their performance and energy efficiency," the IISc said. IISc researchers said the key challenge that the team faced was characterising the various conductance states, which proved impossible using existing equipment. The team designed a custom circuit board that could measure voltages as tiny as a millionth of a volt, to pinpoint these individual states with unprecedented accuracy. It also turned this scientific discovery into a technological feat. The team was able to recreate NASA's iconic "Pillars of Creation" image from the James Webb Space Telescope data - originally created by a <keyword id="6537818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supercomputer" source="Orion">supercomputer</keyword> - using just a tabletop computer. They were also able to do this at a fraction of the time and energy that traditional computers would need. Using their AI accelerator, the team recreated NASA's iconic "Pillars of Creation" image from the James Webb Space Telescope data on a tabletop computer - achieving this in a fraction of the time and energy required by traditional systems, it said. The team includes several students and research fellows at IISc. They also collaborated with Stanley Williams, Professor at Texas A&amp;M University and Damien Thompson, Professor at the University of Limerick, it added. The researchers believe that this breakthrough could be one of India's biggest leaps in AI hardware, putting the country on the map of global technology innovation. Navakanta Bhat, Professor at CeNSE and an expert in silicon electronics led the circuit and system design in this project. "What stands out is how we have transformed complex physics and chemistry understanding into groundbreaking technology for AI hardware," Goswami explained. "In the context of the India Semiconductor Mission, this development could be a game-changer, revolutionising industrial, consumer and strategic applications. The national importance of such research cannot be overstated," he said. With support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the IISc team is now focused on developing a fully indigenous integrated neuromorphic chip. "This is a completely home-grown effort, from materials to circuits and systems," he emphasised. "We are well on our way to translating this technology into a system-on-a-chip," he added.

IISc scientists develop brain-inspired analog computing platform capable of storing, processing data

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Google could one day use nuclear energy to power its AI data centers.</li><li>Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company is "evaluating technologies like small modular nuclear reactors."</li></ul>If Google CEO Sundar Pichai's hints on Thursday are any indicator, nuclear energy may one day power some of Google's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-google-microsoft-ai-future-data-centers-monopoly-tech-industry-2024-6">energy-hungry AI data centers</a>.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-google-manager-made-working-with-manual-for-coworkers-2024-9">Google</a>, Pichai said, is looking for energy sources that not only meet its high energy needs but will also fulfill its goal of generating net-zero emissions.The search giant aims to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/google-s-carbon-emissions-surge-amid-ai-energy-demand-1033526252">achieve net-zero emissions</a> across all of its operations by 2030."It was a very ambitious target and we are still going to be working very ambitiously towards it. Obviously, the trajectory of AI investments has added to the scale of the task needed," Pichai said in an interview with Nikkei Asia published Thursday."We are now looking at additional investments, be it solar, and evaluating technologies like small modular nuclear reactors, etc.," Pichai added, though he didn't specify when and where Google would start sourcing electricity from nuclear power plants.To be sure, this isn't the first time Google has expressed interest in clean energy alternatives like nuclear energy.In September 2023, Google published a blog post and white paper saying that it would "continue to invest significantly" in clean energy technologies like geothermal power and hydrogen.Google isn't the only tech giant considering using nuclear energy to power its data centers.Both its competitors, Amazon and Microsoft, have already announced electricity deals with nuclear power stations.In March, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-could-cut-managers-save-3-billion-analysts-2024-10">Amazon</a> inked a $650 million deal to buy electricity from the Susquehanna nuclear power station, per the Financial Times.Then, in September, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-plan-double-triple-data-center-capacity-2024-4">Microsoft</a> signed a 20-year deal to purchase energy from Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear plant, the plant's owner, Constellation Energy, said in a statement.The reactor, which was shut down in 2019, is slated to be restarted in 2028.

Google is considering nuclear power to feed its energy-hungry AI data centers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>AWS's Graviton CPU chips are used by over 90% of its 1,000 largest data center customers.</li><li>Graviton chips, launched in 2018, are becoming an important part of AWS's overall business.</li></ul>In 2018, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-nuclear-power-strategy-ai-2024-10">Amazon</a> Web Services launched Graviton, its own line of homegrown central processing unit chips for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-data-centers-delays-costs-power-labor-shortages-aws-ai-2024-10">data center</a> servers. Just six years later, the vast majority of AWS's largest server customers have become Graviton users.Rahul Kulkarni, AWS's director of compute and AI/ML, told Business Insider that more than 90% of the 1,000 largest elastic compute cloud (EC2) customers are running Graviton chips. Customers can only access Graviton chips through AWS's EC2 servers."It just continues to show how Graviton is gaining traction," Kulkarni said.The new data point is the latest indication of Graviton's growing success. AWS previously said that over 50,000 customers, including the 100 largest EC2 users, run Graviton-based servers.Graviton is a key part of AWS's data center business. Designing its own chips allows AWS to reduce data center operating costs because it no longer has to buy CPUs solely from other vendors, like Intel or AMD. Graviton also uses Arm-based designs, which are more cost and energy-efficient than conventional x86-powered chips.Amazon doesn't disclose the size of revenue from its custom silicon business. The company is scheduled to announce its third-quarter earnings on Thursday.Kulkarni said Graviton's price value, energy efficiency, and general performance drive more customer adoption. Big enterprises, such as Epic Games, Databricks, and Pinterest, are all major Graviton customers, he said."We have a lot of engagement going on in custom silicon, and that's an area that we will continue to invest in at a very aggressive pace going forward," Kulkarni said.<h2 id="7b568770-d1b9-4b81-ba12-d502621d504a">AI inference</h2>AWS started considering designing its own custom chips after its SVP and distinguished engineer, James Hamilton, wrote an internal 6-page strategy document in 2013. In 2015, AWS doubled down on this plan by acquiring Israel-based chip designer Annapurna Labs.Bernstein Research wrote last year that Amazon is the "most successful" Arm-based server chip designer, supplying over 50% of the Arm server chips worldwide. It estimated Graviton accounted for roughly 20% of AWS's CPU usage as of mid-2022. AWS offers access to other processors, including Intel or AMD chips.AWS's Kulkarni said Graviton is still mostly used for general computing purposes, but a growing number of customers are using it for CPU-based AI inference and machine learning frameworks. He said that Graviton, now in its fourth generation, has added new features and capabilities that enable unique use cases, like AI inference, that don't necessarily need dedicated machine learning processors."It's a new revenue channel that goes beyond what AWS had anticipated Graviton to be used for," Kulkarni said.In the past couple of years, Amazon has been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-layoffs-10000-employees-grand-challenge-team-dramatic-changes-2022-11">cutting costs</a> across the company, shuttering dozens of projects or scaling down unprofitable units. AWS's chip-designing business appears safe from those cutbacks.During an analyst call in August, Jassy said Graviton has been "very successful" for AWS. He added that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aws-ai-chips-wider-regional-availability-microsoft-google-2024-9">AWS's custom AI chips</a>, Inferentia and Trainium, are expected to follow a similar growth trajectory, even though they are seeing mixed results due to Nvidia's early head start, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-nvidia-aws-ai-chip-dominance-gpu-trainium-inferentia-2024-5">BI previously reported</a>."It's one of the most strategic areas for us," Kulkarni said. "We will absolutely continue to drive innovation in custom silicon as we have been doing for the past 10-plus years."Do you work at Amazon? Got a tip?Contact the reporter, Eugene Kim, via the encrypted-messaging apps Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a>) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a>). Reach out using a nonwork device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide</a> for other tips on sharing information securely.

Over 90% of AWS's biggest data center customers are now using its homegrown Graviton chips, executive says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Companies can face data-security challenges with cloud storage and access management.</li><li>Data-security posture management can help identify risks and protect data.</li></ul>Companies handle troves of data, including financial information, customer details, and proprietary content. While much of that data is stored in the cloud, company leaders might not always know exactly where it is, who all has access to it, or how secure it truly is.Dan Benjamin, the senior director of product management at Prisma Cloud, a cloud-security platform made by Palo Alto Networks, said that incorporating data-security posture management into cybersecurity strategies could help solve many of these problems.He described DSPM as a set of cybersecurity technologies that can help companies "discover, understand, and protect their data." This is crucial, as an IBM report published in 2023 estimated that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ibm.com/topics/data-security-posture-management">82% of data breaches</a> involved data stored in the cloud.Clouds and the data they contain are vulnerable for several reasons. For one thing, Benjamin said, "the sheer amount of data in the cloud is larger than the amount of data that's on-premises," or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence-data-privacy-on-premises-information-technology-solutions-2024-8">stored on a company's own hardware</a>. Organizations also often use several cloud systems and sometimes lack a solid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-wang-talks-artificial-intelligence-and-on-premises-infrastructure-2024-8">security strategy for maintaining, updating, and securing data</a>.Liat Hayun, the vice president of product management and research of cloud security at the cybersecurity company Tenable, said cloud environments' flexibility makes them attractive to companies. Clouds make it easy for companies to store and move data around, but they're also difficult to monitor.While DSPM can help, Hayun said, many organizations haven't embraced the technology.<h2 id="500962ef-2e5d-401c-aa84-3745209e9825">How DSPM safeguards data</h2>Benjamin said DSPM helps organizations answer three key questions: "What data do I have? How is it being used? And how is it being protected?"Hayun said the software continuously identifies where a company's data resides and classifies it based on its sensitivity level, such as personally identifiable information or intellectual property. It then analyzes the controls around the data, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-respond-to-ransomware-attack">who has access to it and how secure it is</a>; identifies vulnerabilities; and recommends ways to address a problem.Julie Madhusoodanan, the head of cybersecurity at LinkedIn, described DSPM as a combination of risk identification, reporting, and mitigation."Think of it as having a security guard who regularly checks where your data is stored, who has access to it, and how it's being used," she said.If something looks off — for example, sensitive information is being stored in the wrong place, or someone has access to data they shouldn't have — DSPM software can alert a company's security or information-technology teams to resolve the issue "before something bad happens," Madhusoodanan said.Other cybersecurity solutions focus on securing devices or systems that house or process data and often identify vulnerabilities and risks after they happen. Madhusoodanan said DSPM is designed to protect the data itself and "can proactively block risks from being inserted into the system in the first place."<h2 id="38f8e7b1-fe20-45f3-ac0f-8e4e65aafba3">Why DSPM is a beneficial security measure</h2>Any organization that collects, maintains, and processes data — no matter its size or industry — is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-know-about-sec-cybersecurity-rules-and-guidance">at risk of a breach</a>, Madhusoodanan said. Investing in DSPM, she added, can help "give organizations a clearer picture of the risk their business is carrying," manage that risk, and heighten security.For example, LinkedIn uses DSPM to assess threats and plan mitigation strategies. Madhusoodanan said the technology had improved the company's response time and accuracy in addressing vulnerabilities.Benjamin gave an example of a financial company he worked with: It used DSPM and discovered that some financial reports were being copied to a cloud that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-can-respond-to-cybersecurity-risks-after-layoffs-2024-9">belonged to a former employee</a>. The tool identified the issue so the company could secure the data.Benjamin said DSPM could also reduce the likelihood and impact of a data breach. Breaches can cost a company millions of dollars, damage its reputation, interfere with operations, and cause compliance problems if sensitive data is compromised.Hayun said DSPM could ensure that companies don't take unnecessary risks with data and make them feel more secure in scaling up their data programs, enabling them to grow their business.Benjamin said that while DSPM could benefit most companies, the technology is especially advantageous for those in regulated industries, such as finance or health, or with a lot of customer data.<h2 id="087ddab0-b09f-4ff6-b341-21bcf3c50adf">Some companies face challenges implementing DSPM</h2>Companies implementing DSPM tech can struggle with hiring the appropriate staff, lacking internal resources, selecting a DSPM vendor or tool, and getting executive buy-in, according to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://normalyze.ai/company/from-reactive-to-proactive-dspms-transformative-role-in-data-security/">report from Normalyze</a>, a DSPM provider.Madhusoodanan said that DSPM strategies can't be implemented in silos and that stakeholder buy-in is critical. "This is where leaders face the biggest friction and why fostering a security-centric culture is key to getting leaders on board," she said.She added that it's essential to ensure everyone across an organization understands and is focused on the company's data-protection strategies so that the organization can make accurate risk-mitigation decisions.Hayun said DSPM enabled organizations to use data effectively and securely — and in compliance with regulatory bodies."They can build guardrails around how the data is used and allow their teams to run within those guardrails without concern," she said.

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