Let's build AI data centers in space | Philip Johnston
TED Talks Daily
TED
4.1 β’ 11.9K Ratings
ποΈ 14 January 2026
β±οΈ 13 minutes
ποΈ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
AI is setting up residence in the final frontier, says technologist Philip Johnston. He shares the incredible work being undertaken to build data centers in outer space β and how they might harness both solar power and frigid temperatures in order to address the AI energy challenge. Learn more about the affordability of this wild idea and how it could address concerns about the resources needed to keep up with the AI boom.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. |
| 0:12.3 | I'm your host, Elise Hugh. Tensions are rising in many parts of the world, and one culprit is an age-old tale, the struggle for control over the finite resources on our planet. |
| 0:24.4 | Today, the ever-expanding need for data centers |
| 0:26.8 | to keep up with the AI boom is at the heart of this struggle, |
| 0:30.2 | as AI requires massive amounts of invaluable resources like water and land. |
| 0:35.9 | In this talk, AI energy pioneer Philip Johnston makes the case for why the future of computing |
| 0:41.6 | and global stability might not be meant for this Earth and suggests that we look up to find |
| 0:48.3 | the solution in space. |
| 0:59.0 | This time next week, I will be at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, nervously awaiting the launch of our first spacecraft. |
| 1:03.0 | Much about that setting will be different from this one, but there are a few things that will remain the same. |
| 1:09.0 | For example, like now, in a week's time, |
| 1:11.3 | I will also be hoping not to crash and burn. |
| 1:16.1 | And like now, in a week's time, |
| 1:17.9 | I will again be wearing my same lucky underpants. |
| 1:21.1 | That's not a joke. |
| 1:23.9 | So what about the spacecraft next week |
| 1:26.2 | makes it so special that it warrants a rare second |
| 1:29.0 | weekly appearance of said undergarment? |
| 1:33.8 | It's because it will be the first time that anybody has tried to launch an AI data center |
| 1:38.1 | to space. |
| 1:39.7 | More specifically, we will be the first to launch the Nvidia H100 chip100 chip to space, which is about a hundred times more powerful GPU or AI compute than has ever been in space before. |
| 1:50.0 | In fact, this spacecraft is the first step in a much larger vision to build almost all data centers in space. |
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