Data Centers, AI, and the Future of U.S. Strategic Competitiveness

Join the CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department’s Matt Pearl, Aalok Mehta, Joseph Majkut, and Philip Luck on Wednesday, June 4th, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am for a discussion on the rapid expansion of data centers and what it means for the future of AI, energy, and U.S. competitiveness. As artificial intelligence accelerates demand for compute power, data centers have emerged as a critical piece of strategic infrastructure shaping electricity demand, industrial policy, environmental debates, and global technology competition.

The conversation will examine the growing tensions surrounding data center expansion, including questions around grid reliability, local community impacts, permitting and zoning, clean energy goals, and national security. Panelists will also explore how policymakers should weigh the local costs of data centers against their broader economic and strategic benefits, and what role the United States’ data center capacity will play in the global race for AI leadership.

This event was made possible through the support of Amazon.