S8 Ep205: Rick Fisher analyzes the emerging race to build AI data centers in low Earth orbit, noting advantages like natural cooling and zero real estate costs. While Elon Musk's Starlink positions the US well, Fisher warns that China has detailed plans to use spac

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

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4.5 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

Rick Fisher analyzes the emerging race to build AI data centers in low Earth orbit, noting advantages like natural cooling and zero real estate costs. While Elon Musk's Starlink positions the US well, Fisher warns that China has detailed plans to use space-based data centers to support expansion into the solar system.
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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is CBS I on the world.
0:12.1	I'm John Batchezer.
0:13.0	Gordon Chang.
0:13.6	At Gordon G. Chang joins me.
0:15.7	And we turn to artificial intelligence, AI, but not AI, Earthbound, AI in space, AI lower Earth orbit.
0:25.9	The interconnecting detail here, something called a tech center.
0:31.6	And we welcome Rick Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center to comment on, what is a tech center? It seems that it has
0:40.8	a wide possibilities. And why put a tech center in space? Who's going to put a tech center in
0:46.5	space? The article I have from the South China Morning Post, which is influenced by the Chinese
0:52.4	Communist Party propaganda machine.
0:54.3	So I mentioned, suggests that China is going to put a tech center in space.
0:59.7	Rick, a very good evening to you.
1:01.7	There is a tech center and low earth orbit gap.
1:05.1	What is a tech center?
1:06.3	Good evening to you.
1:08.3	Good evening, John.
1:09.0	Good evening, Gordon.
1:11.5	Tech Center,
1:13.1	data center.
1:16.1	Those of us who live in
1:18.4	Northern Virginia see them
1:20.6	popping up all over the place like
	...

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