斯坦福大学的研究显示，截至去年，美国的AI数据中心数量约为中国的10倍，算力也远超中国。其他估计表明，美国科技企业拥有中国企业所没有的东西——获取最先进芯片的途径，而芯片是开发人工智能最重要的单一要素。美国有线电视新闻网的西蒙娜·麦卡锡报道了中国目前如何努力迎头赶上。
As of last year, the US had roughly 10 times more AI data centers than China, according to Stanford University research – and vastly more computing power.
美国正在赢得人工智能竞赛。>> 在中国北部戈壁沙漠的边缘，连绵起伏的平原正在被快速改造。>> 像这样绵延数英里的数据中心，正处于世纪竞赛的核心。>> 随着美国人展开反击。>> 谁在数？都在数。>> 在特朗普总统要求美国保持领先之际。>> 无论谁赢，人工智能都会赢。>> 北京正在发挥自身的优势：绿色能源、开阔的土地，以及随时随地按需建设的权力。
Other estimates show American tech firms have something China’s don’t - access to the most advanced chips, the single most important ingredient for developing AI. CNN's Simone McCarthy reports on how China is now working to catch up. GOES WIN THE AI RACE. >> ON THE EDGE OF THE GOBI DESERT IN NORTHERN CHINA. ROLLING PLAINS ARE BEING RAPIDLY TRANSFORMED. >> SPRAWLING DATA CENTERS LIKE THIS ARE AT THE HEART OF THE RACE OF THE CENTURY. >> AS AMERICANS PUSH BACK. >> WHO'S COUNTING?
我们来到了内蒙古乌兰察布，这是一座中国农村城市，几乎每一辆驶过的车辆都展示着其对人工智能的推进。这里计划建造至少89个数据中心。>> 这里有成片的建筑。这些数据中心来自中国一些最大的公司。>> 在这些标志性项目中，有一座按面积计算将成为世界最大数据中心之一的设施，由中国绿色科技公司远景建设。
ARE COUNTING. >> WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP DEMANDS THE U.S. STAY AHEAD. >> WHOEVER WINS, AI WINS. >> BEIJING IS PLAYING TO ITS ADVANTAGES. GREEN ENERGY, OPEN SPACES, AND THE POWER TO BUILD WHEREVER AND HOWEVER IT WANTS. WE'VE COME TO ULANQAB, INNER MONGOLIA, A RURAL CHINESE CITY WHERE NEARLY EVERY PASSING VEHICLE SHOWS ITS AI PUSH.
我们是第一家被允许访问并参观戒备森严的服务器内部的国际媒体，这些服务器很快就将装满专业技术。>> 对算力的需求几乎每年翻一番。>> 你认为这里有足够的空间来满足你预计在未来几年看到的这种需求吗？>> 这个数据中心已经满负荷运转，所以我们正在建设更多。>> 张（音）表示，这座最先进的设施使用了所谓的零水冷却系统。>> 我们每天只消耗大约一箱水。这些水大多不是用于冷却的。
AT LEAST 89 DATA CENTERS ARE SLATED TO BE BUILT HERE. >> THERE IS BLOCK AFTER BLOCK OF CONSTRUCTION HERE. DATA CENTERS FROM SOME OF CHINA'S BIGGEST COMPANIES. >> AMONG THE MARQUEE PROJECTS, WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST DATA CENTERS BY AREA, A FACILITY BY CHINESE GREEN TECHNOLOGY COMPANY ENVISION. WE'RE THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ALLOWED TO VISIT AND SEE INSIDE THE TIGHTLY GUARDED SERVER ROOMS THAT WILL SOON BE FILLED WITH SPECIALIZED TECH. >> THE DEMAND FOR COMPUTING POWERS ALMOST DOUBLED EVERY YEAR. >> DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPACE HERE TO MEET THE KIND OF DEMAND THAT YOU'RE EXPECTING TO SEE IN THE COMING YEARS? >> THIS DATA CENTER IS ALREADY FULLY OCCUPIED, SO WE ARE BUILDING MORE. >> ZHANG SAYS THE STATE OF THE ART FACILITY USES A SO-CALLED ZERO WATER COOLING SYSTEM. >> WE ONLY CONSUME ABOUT A TANK OF WATER EVERY DAY. THOSE WATERS ARE NOT MOSTLY FOR COOLING.
这只是为了可能的常规使用。>> 并且它的大部分能源来自电网之外。向北大约100英里处，我们找到了能源来源。风力涡轮机将直接为校园至少80%的用电供电。>> 而美国正面临电力紧张，同时在建设数据中心，中国则拥有清洁能源的过剩供应。>> 中国正利用这一点。在拥有丰富绿色能源的地区规划数据中心枢纽。>> 北京已指定八个国家级计算枢纽。
IT'S JUST FOR MAYBE REGULAR USE. >> AND DRAWS MOST OF ITS ENERGY FROM OUTSIDE THE GRID. AROUND 100 MILES TO THE NORTH, WE FIND THE SOURCE. WIND TURBINES WILL DIRECTLY POWER AT LEAST 80% OF THE CAMPUS. WHILE THE U.S. FACES A POWER CRUNCH, BUILDING OUT DATA CENTERS, CHINA HAS AN OVERSUPPLY OF CLEAN ENERGY. >> CHINA IS USING THAT TO ITS ADVANTAGE. PLANNING DATA CENTER HUBS IN PLACES WITH AMPLE GREEN ENERGY. >> BEIJING HAS DESIGNATED EIGHT NATIONAL COMPUTING HUBS.
但截至去年，美国的数据中心数量是中国的十倍，而中国面临着一个关键障碍。>> 美国具有显著优势。嗯，在于拥有更强大、更先进的AI芯片。>> 回到乌兰察布，我们看到没有反对迹象，因为它正在成为一个数据城。>> 以前我们只是坐在这里等待客户。现在我们一直很忙。>> 我们采访的居民普遍看到了好处。>> 环境不如以前干净了，但人们的收入在经济方面有了很大提升。
BUT THE U.S. HAD TEN TIMES AS MANY DATA CENTERS AS OF LAST YEAR, AND CHINA FACES A CRUCIAL OBSTACLE. >> THE U.S. HAS A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE. UM, IN TERMS OF HAVING MORE POWERFUL, MORE CAPABLE AI CHIPS. >> BACK IN ULANQAB, WE SAW NO SIGN OF PUSHBACK AS IT BECOMES A DATA CITY. >> BEFORE WE JUST SIT HERE AND WAIT FOR CUSTOMERS. NOW WE'RE BUSY ALL THE TIME. >> RESIDENTS WE SPOKE TO LARGELY SAW THE BENEFITS. >> THE ENVIRONMENT ISN'T AS CLEAN AS BEFORE, BUT PEOPLE'S INCOMES IN THE ECONOMY, IT'S WAY BETTER.