🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Uber data center plan fits into Adani’s US$100 billion AI buildout

• The partnership sits within Adani Group’s plan to spend US$100 billion by 2035 on renewable-powered data centers built for AI workloads 1.
• It also fits a wider trend among US tech firms that have picked Adani as a local partner. The group is working with Google on an AI hub in Visakhapatnam, a port city in southeastern India, worth about US$15 billion. It is also working with Microsoft on projects in Hyderabad and Pune 2, 1.
• The companies had discussed working together before. In February 2024, Adani’s chairman met Uber’s CEO. They discussed a possible tie-up around electric vehicles plus Adani’s super app, an app that combines multiple services in one place 3.

Data rules are pushing tech firms to build local infrastructure

• Companies such as Uber are building infrastructure inside countries to meet data residency rules, which require some data to stay within national borders. This shift is tied to digital nationalism and localisation regimes, including in India 4.
• A local infrastructure specialist such as Adani may help tech firms handle the demands of modern computing. AI workloads can require stronger physical security plus operational resilience beyond traditional standards 4.
• This setup, in which a US tech firm works with a national infrastructure champion, could offer a model for dealing with strict rules plus huge capital costs. It may also guide global expansion as digital borders tighten 4.