The AI boom has a significant physical footprint that is often invisible to the public. A visit to Digital Realty's innovation lab in Northern Virginia, a hub for data centers, provided a rare look inside. The lab showcases the immense cooling infrastructure required to manage the heat generated by AI chips. One rack of AI systems, including Nvidia's gold-colored processors, can cost around $1 million. Gaining access to these facilities is difficult, contributing to public backlash over their environmental impact, particularly concerning electricity and water usage.Companies like Digital Realty are investing heavily in data centers, with plans for massive expansion. These facilities require substantial power, often supplemented by numerous diesel generators for backup. While data centers appear as unassuming warehouses from the outside, their internal operations involve complex systems for power and cooling. Digital Realty is exploring cooling methods that are more energy-intensive than water-dependent. The need for such infrastructure is global, with Digital Realty planning similar innovation labs in multiple international locations.