Why are countries investing in giant data centres?
Why are countries investing in giant data centres?  
Podcast: Technology Now
Published On: Thu Mar 19 2026
Description: How are data centres tied to countries’ data strategies? This week, Technology Now takes a step back to look at why and how countries are investing in AI projects. We ask how large data centres are funded, built and powered, we explore how technology is procured for these projects, and we examine the impact of these giant structures on data sovereignty. Talal al Kaissi, interim CEO of Core 42, tells us more.This is Technology Now, a weekly show from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Every week, hosts Michael Bird and Sam Jarrell look at a story that's been making headlines, take a look at the technology behind it, and explain why it matters to organizations.About Talal:https://www.linkedin.com/in/talal-m-al-kaissi-20059a5/?originalSubdomain=aeSources:https://www.cargoson.com/en/blog/number-of-data-centers-by-countryhttps://regional.chinadaily.com.cn/hohhot/2022-06/08/c_793607.htmhttps://www.seas.upenn.edu/about/history-heritage/eniac/https://www.vailwilliams.com/from-first-generation-to-hyperscale-the-whirlwind-evolution-of-data-centres/ https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/worlds-first-general-purpose-computer-turns-75#:~:text=ENIAC%20weighed%2030%20tons%2C%20took,five%20million%20hand%2Dsoldered%20joints.https://www.themeasureofthings.com/results.php?search=10%2C700%2C000+square+feet+%28sq.+ft%29%2C+a+measure+of+area&unit=f2&comp=area&amt=10700000&searchTerm=10%2C700%2C000+square+feet+%28sq.+ft%29%2C+a+measure+of+area#google_vignette