Benjamin C Lee

@Lee_BenjaminC

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania. Studying computer architecture, data science, algorithmic economics

Philadelphia, PA seas.upenn.edu/~leebcc/ Joined September 2020

62 Following 315 Followers 187 Posts

Latest posts 5

Benjamin C Lee @Lee_BenjaminC Aug 11

How should states govern AI datacenter growth? Gov Abbott's directive for Texas data centers (self-funded infrastructure, water-efficient cooling) reflects best practice. Writing them into policy would raise standards for all. Comments in @Newsweek: newsweek.com/after-backing-…

www.newsweek.com After backing AI boom, why Greg Abbott wants Texas data centers blocked After championing AI growth, Greg Abbott now wants Texas data centres blocked, citing power costs, water use and community impacts.

Benjamin C Lee @Lee_BenjaminC Aug 6

Should AI datacenters be built above the Ogallala Aquifer? What matters most is the type of data center and the cooling technology that is used. My comments in @Newsweek: newsweek.com/data-centers-p…

www.newsweek.com Data centers proposed on top of largest underground water reservoir in us AI data center growth is clashing with U.S. groundwater, as proposed sites over the Ogallala Aquifer raise water security concerns.

Benjamin C Lee @Lee_BenjaminC Aug 4

How should water factor into AI datacenter siting? Where water is scarce, air cooling and closed-loop systems use less water but more energy. Design and siting must be coordinated to make the most resource-efficient choices. My comments in @Newsweek: newsweek.com/map-data-cente…

www.newsweek.com Map shows where data centers are being built in drought-hit areas New data centers are being built in parts of the U.S. facing historic drought, raising concerns about water supply in already strained areas.

Benjamin C Lee @Lee_BenjaminC Feb 26

Connected with @newscientist about feasibility, timeline for orbital datacenters. Some form of orbital computing is possible and natural progression given low-cost launches and constellations of communication satellites.

newscientist.com/article/250936…

www.newscientist.com Putting data centres in space isn't going to happen any time soon | New Scientist From massive solar panels to the difficulty of staying cool - not to mention high-energy radiation - there are a lot of engineering problems that need to be solved before we can build data centres in...

Benjamin C Lee @Lee_BenjaminC Feb 26

Spoke with Libération about interest in orbital datacenters among tech executives. The vision is compelling due to solar energy, no land and water constraints. But challenges include radiation hardening, thermal management, and launch costs at scale.

liberation.fr/economie/econo…

www.liberation.fr Des data centers en orbite ? Le plan sur la comète des patrons de la tech Face aux besoins en eau et en énergie de l’IA, ils rêvent d’envoyer des centres de données dans l’espace pour profiter de la proximité du Soleil et du froid sidéral. Un projet moins futé qu’inquiét...