Meta Stop Plans For AI Data Center Development Due To Bees

Meta cancels AI data center construction (photo: dock.unsplash)

JAKARTA To support heavy Artificial Intelligence (AI) workload, Meta plans to build an AI data center with nuclear power in the US. Reportedly, Meta has found a place to build it.

However, this development plan was reportedly canceled by the Financial Times. Meta has abandoned its intention to build AI support facilities as they find rare bee species on the land that have been prepared for the project.

When an internal general meeting was held some time ago, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told his staff members that the AI data center development plan would be difficult. The reason is, they will face many regulatory challenges due to the bees.

The only way to keep the project is to find other reserve land. Zuckerberg is also ready to close the deal with the operator of the nuclear power plant that should provide free energy emissions to the Meta data center.

Zuckerberg is still eyeing the construction of the first nuclear-powered AI data center. If the company does not move quickly, this position may be captured by Microsoft which is also investing in nuclear energy.

In September, Microsoft revealed that it would build a nuclear power plant on Three Mile Island. The plant will be re-established to provide clean energy for its AI technology.

Google and Amazon have also done the same. Google plans to build seven small nuclear reactors alongside the Cairos Power startup, while Amazon will start building small nuclear reactors with three different companies.

It is not yet known whether Meta has started looking for a new location that will be used as a place for the construction of its AI data center. Several Times sources said the company was still exploring the agreement to provide emission-free energy with several companies.