AI & Enterprise

Dispute grows over jobs impact of UK AI data centre expansion

Britain is rapidly expanding AI data centres, but the number of permanent jobs created may be far smaller than industry forecasts, an analysis said. Think tank Verdant estimated about 4,400 jobs are directly supported by current data centres and projected about 10,400 direct operating jobs when planned facilities are included, well below techUK estimates. techUK disputed the methodology, while the government said value cannot be judged by jobs per megawatt alone.

Industry

SK hynix cuts daily water use by 170,000 tonnes, targets 600 million tonnes by 2030

SK hynix said it cut average daily water use by 170,000 tonnes at its domestic sites last year. The company presented its water management results at Korea International Water Week 2026, held in Daegu from Sept. 9 to 11. SK hynix said cumulative water savings reached 303.37 million tonnes by last year, exceeding an earlier target of 264 million tonnes. It raised this year’s target to 329 million tonnes and aims for 600 million tonnes by 2030.