UN expert: Data centers are new military targets, AI factories may slow

A UN expert warns that data centers have become military targets in conflicts, urging Europe to rethink AI infrastructure placement as drone attacks in Ukraine and the Middle East highlight their vulnerability. Mehdi Paryavi, UN advisor and IDCA founder, says disabling data centers can paralyze economies and essential services like banking and healthcare. He argues traditional siting recommendations are insufficient, suggesting underground or protected bunker-style construction may be necessary. Paryavi predicts European plans for AI gigafactories will slow down, citing high costs up to $25 billion per facility and near-irreversible economic damage. He advocates for EU-wide coordination and concentrated digital hubs to enable collective security measures.