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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 41m

The answer to this is not simple. I personally think that we have to think bigger and be more ambitious when we investigate and explain the costs of these developments. To do so we need time, resources and to collaborate intensely between reporters with different skills.

Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 41m

@daniel-howden.bsky.social invited us and @joannaskao.bsky.social from the @pulitzercenter.org to think together on how journos can approach these kinds of stories. And also how we can make people care about the many implications of what probably is the biggest infra project of our modern times.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 41m

My colleague @laismartins.com puts it very clearly: "This is not a story only about infrastructure, but a story about energy, power and greed". Laís said this a few weeks ago at the session I am sharing below, at the recent iMEdD International Journalism Forum. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGZ...

Beneath the Cloud, AI at ground level How to report on the impact of data centres

YouTube video by iMEdD: incubator for Media Education & Development

www.youtube.com

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 41m

Amassing the resources and land needed, through facilities in different countries, to power the AI tools that are making Altman & OpenAI extremely rich. I cannot think of any corporate endeavour other than Stargate that better reflects what is at stake when we talk about the AI infrastructure race.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 41m

This weekend Sam Altman and Javier Milei made public Stargate Argentina, a massive data center project with a 500 MW capacity that will be built in the Patagonia. Stargate is a joint venture of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world with a single goal: 🧵
www.reuters.com/world/americ...

OpenAI, Sur Energy weigh $25 billion Argentina data center project

OpenAI and Sur Energy have signed a letter of intent for a data center project in Argentina requiring an investment of up to $25 billion, the South American nation's government said on Friday.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Periodisme Contra el Genocidi a Palestina @premsaxgaza.bsky.social · 4h

El periodista palestí Saleh Aljafarawi ha sigut assassinat per membres d'una milícia vinculada a Israel. No s'atura la matança de periodistes amb l'alt al foc www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...

Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi shot dead in Gaza City clashes

Sources say the 28-year-old was killed by members of Israel-linked 'militia' fighting Hamas in the Sabra neighbourhood.

www.aljazeera.com

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks for sharing it, Charles. Happy that you found it insightful!

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Charles Logan @charleswlogan.bsky.social · 9d

I appreciated this methodology post from @pjarandia.bsky.social describing how he and his co-authors investigate AI's infrastructure.

I think there're lessons for educators interested in doing the same w/ students, including focusing on the local, getting out in the field, and building alliances.

How We Investigated the Backyard of AI in Spain, Chile, and Mexico

Leer en español. In October 2024, I came across a video in which Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, spoke bluntly about the environmental costs of artificial intelligence (AI). Schmidt, one of...

pulitzercenter.org

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · 22d

While Mexico tries to become a data center hub, its electric grid isn't powerful enough to keep up with the energy demand.

In Queretaro, Microsoft has to use gas generators for at least one data center.

Story by @pjarandia.bsky.social and @dandiba.bsky.social for @restofworld.org. bit.ly/425DjAu

Countries Are Struggling To Meet the Rising Energy Demands of Data Centers

México’s lagging energy grid is forcing companies, including Microsoft, to use generators. Countries are scrambling to meet rising energy demands in the midst of an AI boom. Unable to plug into México...

pulitzercenter.org

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Civio @civio.es · 25d

🚨 Histórico: El Supremo obliga al Gobierno a entregar el código fuente de BOSCO, el programa que decide quién accede al bono social eléctrico.

Una victoria tras 7 años de litigio.

civio.es/novedades/20...

Civio abre camino en la transparencia algorítmica: el Supremo condena al Gobierno a entregar el código fuente de BOSCO

La sentencia, que crea jurisprudencia, considera que el uso de aplicaciones en la toma de decisiones públicas debe ir acompañada de transparencia que permita su fiscalización. Rechaza que la…

civio.es

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 25d

Similar examples have been revealed in recent months in other places around the globe. In the piece we explain the severe implications of this way of thinking and acting.

This story is part of an investigation done with the keen support of the @pulitzercenter.org

restofworld.org/2025/ai-ener...

Countries are struggling to meet the rising energy demands of data centers

Mexico's lagging energy grid is forcing companies, including Microsoft, to use generators.

restofworld.org

Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 25d

The case we uncover in this story with @restofworld.org is a good example of how Big Tech companies think and operate in many countries, specially in the Global South. Instead of waiting to get a connection to the grid, Microsoft decided to install a brand new fossil-fueled energy source on site.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 25d

The reason? The national energy grid was not ready yet to do so, at least in an initial stage, Microsoft claimed. In many countries energy grids are already unable to supply the unprecedented energy demand posed by new tech infraestructure.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · 25d

While reporting on the data center expansion in Mexico with @dandiba.bsky.social we found some docs in which Microsoft said they would be using gas generators to fully power on of its new centers in the region of Querétaro.

@restofworld.org
@pulitzercenter.org

restofworld.org/2025/ai-ener...

Countries are struggling to meet the rising energy demands of data centers

Mexico's lagging energy grid is forcing companies, including Microsoft, to use generators.

restofworld.org

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Patricia Fernández de Lis @pflis.bsky.social · Aug 9

ESPECIAL | El patio trasero de la IA.
Los gigantes de internet extraen recursos básicos y acaparan terrenos para sus centros de datos en México, Chile y España. Este es un recorrido por los impactos de esos proyectos. "Más nos valdría que nos pusieran un centro de salud”
elpais.com/tecnologia/2...

El patio trasero de la IA. Un mapa de la fiebre del oro del siglo XXI

Los gigantes de internet extraen recursos básicos y acaparan terrenos para la construcción de sus nuevos centros de datos en México, Chile y España. Este es un recorrido por los impactos de varios pro...

elpais.com

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · Aug 25

AI requires enormous data centers and significant amounts of energy and water to operate.

AI Fellow @pjarandia.bsky.social, @dandiba.bsky.social, and Muriel Alarcón reveal how Amazon, Google, & Microsoft are building these centers in drought-prone regions of Chile, Mexico, and Spain. bit.ly/4lADqe3

Site where Google's project for a new data center will be located in the Cerrillos district of Santiago, Chile, on April 11, 2025. Image courtesy of EL PAÍS.

Tania Rodríguez, one of the spokespersons for the Mosacat collective, poses in front of the lot owned by Google in the municipality of Cerrillos, Santiago, Chile. Image by Sofia Yanjari. Chile, 2025.

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · Aug 21

Amazon, Google, and Microsoft's data centers are consuming water in drought-ridden areas and seizing land in Chile, Mexico, and Spain.

AI Fellow @pjarandia.bsky.social, @dandiba.bsky.social, and Muriel Alarcón, reveal –for @elpaiscyt.bsky.social– how these centers are built. bit.ly/4lADqe3

The Backyard of AI

A Map of the 21st Century Gold Rush An investigation by El País and the Pulitzer Centre reveals how internet giants are extracting basic resources and grabbing land to build their new data centers in....

pulitzercenter.org

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · Aug 18

@dandiba.bsky.social and Muriel Alarcón were my reporting partners for this project. And the work behind it would not have been possible without the keen support of AI's accountabilty network of the @pulitzercenter.org.

You can read the full story in English here: english.elpais.com/technology/2...

AI’s backyard: A map of the 21st-century gold rush

Internet giants are extracting basic resources and grabbing land to build their new data centers in Mexico, Chile, and Spain. This is a look at the impacts of several projects by Microsoft, Amazon, an...

english.elpais.com

Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · Aug 18

As the debate over AI’s environmental costs grows louder, this investigation maps what is behind Big Tech's obsession to increase their computing capacities. And how local communities -and society as a whole- are and will be paying the bill if guardrails are not put in place.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · Aug 18

They are also seizing large tracts of land to build their centers and the power grids that feed them. All under a veil of secrecy that, at times, includes the use of shell companies and, in almost all cases, the complicity and collusion of local authorities.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · Aug 18

In record time, they have become priority destinations for US internet giants to build their new massive server farms.

We've found evidence on how Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google are extacting basic resources such as water in areas facing severe droughts.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · Aug 18

During 10 months we've looked into the proliferation of new-generation data centers in three different locations. The regions of Querétaro (Mexico), Santiago (Chile) and Aragón (Spain) are very far from each other but share a common thread.

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Pablo Jiménez Arandia @pjarandia.bsky.social · Aug 18

An English version of our investigation alongside @pulitzercenter.org on the local impacts of Big Tech's AI infrastructure was just published by @elpais.com

english.elpais.com/technology/2...

AI’s backyard: A map of the 21st-century gold rush

Internet giants are extracting basic resources and grabbing land to build their new data centers in Mexico, Chile, and Spain. This is a look at the impacts of several projects by Microsoft, Amazon, an...

english.elpais.com

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · Aug 15

Amazon, Google y Microsoft han establecido sus centros de datos en el estado mexicano de Querétaro.

Estos centros extraen agua de acuíferos clave que sustentan la agricultura y las comunidades locales.

Por @pjarandia.bsky.social y @dandiba.bsky.social para @elpais.com. bit.ly/4oCBgx8

El patio trasero de la IA

Un mapa de la fiebre del oro del siglo XXI Una investigación de El País y el Centro Pulitzer revela cómo los gigantes de internet extraen recursos básicos y acaparan terrenos para la construcción de.....

pulitzercenter.org

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Reposted by Pablo Jiménez Arandia

Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · Aug 14

Los centros de datos de #Amazon, #Google y #Microsoft están acaparando tierras y consumiendo agua en zonas áridas de Chile, México y España.

AI Fellow @pjarandia.bsky.social, @dandiba.bsky.social y Muriel Alarcón revelan, para @elpaiscyt.bsky.social, cómo se construyen estos centros. bit.ly/4oCBgx8

El patio trasero de la IA

Un mapa de la fiebre del oro del siglo XXI Una investigación de El País y el Centro Pulitzer revela cómo los gigantes de internet extraen recursos básicos y acaparan terrenos para la construcción de.....

pulitzercenter.org

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