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Altman: Underwater Data Centers Easier Than Space Options

5/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Sam Altman said underwater data centers are easier to build and cool than space-based systems on May 13.
He noted that ocean-robotics teams are not yet considering computing while power-infrastructure remains a hurdle for space and land sites.
Altman cited Google’s Project Suncatcher, which aims to launch computing satellites by 2027.
He added that rising AI-computing demand fuels interest in alternatives such as SpaceX’s orbital data-center concepts.

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Story summary

Sam Altman said underwater data centers are easier to build and cool than space-based systems on May 13.
He noted that ocean-robotics teams are not yet considering computing while power-infrastructure remains a hurdle for space and land sites.
Altman cited Google’s Project Suncatcher, which aims to launch computing satellites by 2027.
He added that rising AI-computing demand fuels interest in alternatives such as SpaceX’s orbital data-center concepts.