We mapped every data centre on earth

In 2025, five technology companies spent more building AI data centres than it cost to land humans on the moon. This is the scale of what's being built to power AI. Drawing on the IEA's latest analysis, this film looks at the full relationship between AI and energy: the scale of investment, the strain on power grids, what it means for electricity prices, and how AI is starting to help run the energy system as well as consume it. Using first of its kind satellite tracking, we mapped the buildout of AI data centres around the world – and found capacity has doubled in twelve months. You can find all of our analysis at: https://iea.li/ai including maps and data via our Energy and AI observatory. Chapters 00:00 How much is being invested? 01:20 What's getting built? 01:40 How much energy do data centres use? 03:06 What's happening in the United States? 03:50 Do data centres raise electricity prices? 06:10 Mapping every data centre & cluster 07:55 How are data centres powered? 10:19 What can we learn from financial markets? 11:50 Is AI using less electricity? 13:04 Could AI help solve energy challenges? 14:36 Not all AI is the same Featuring Thomas Spencer, Siddharth Singh, Vincent Jacamon, Hans-Kristian Ringkjob, Inhoi Heo, Max Schoenfisch, James Bragg, Davide D'Ambrosio and Rebecca Ruff. Produced by Josh Hammond.