The race to build AI data centres in Canada: but what are they, and do we need them?

The federal government has now introduced five principles for responsible data-centre development. They include limiting water use and environmental impacts, making sure electricity costs aren’t passed on to Canadians, and ensuring projects provide benefits to local communities. But will it be enough to address concerns about the enormous amounts of electricity and water these facilities can consume? Kelly Bronson is a Canada Research Chair in Science and Society at the University of Ottawa, she spoke to Andrew Carter.