Where the Internet Lives

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every corner of the global economy — and none of it is possible without the invisible infrastructure powering it: data centers.In Season 5 of Where the Internet Lives, host Stephanie Wong returns to guide listeners through the places, people, and breakthroughs defining this new era. From drug discovery and food security to manufacturing and creative expression, AI is accelerating innovation at a pace the world has never seen.Subscribe to Where the Internet Lives on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you get your shows. And this season, we’ll have more film documentaries to complement our audio stories on YouTube. The new season drops in January. We can’t wait to welcome you back.

Julia Mangin, Head of Sustainability at Recology, dives into the pressing issue of plastic waste and its environmental impact. She reveals that only 8% of plastic gets recycled, prompting a discussion on the crucial role of AI and robotics in transforming recycling efforts. Innovations in hyperspectral imaging are highlighted as game changers, enabling better sorting of materials. Julia emphasizes the importance of collaboration across industries to embrace circularity and achieve a sustainable future, all while navigating the hurdles posed by complex plastic waste.

In this insightful discussion, Millie Chu Baird, VP at the Environmental Defense Fund, and Fatima Luna, Tucson's Chief Resilience Officer, tackle the urgent issues of climate change and urban heat. They explore how AI and satellite technology, like MethaneSAT, play critical roles in tracking emissions. Karin Tuxen-Bettman highlights innovations in air quality monitoring, while Dr. Monica Bharel addresses public health implications. Together, they emphasize the importance of sustainable urban planning and the significance of tree equity in combating extreme heat.

Dwane Roth, a fourth-generation farmer from Kansas, shares his journey in adopting high-tech water conservation methods. Emily Ma discusses the integration of technology and sustainability in food systems, while Prem Ramaswamy emphasizes the importance of accessible public data. Stephanie Zidek sheds light on food distribution challenges during the pandemic, revealing the paradox of hunger and waste. Astro Teller explores innovative ocean solutions and sustainable food production, illustrating how AI can help create culturally relevant recipes and improve food access.

Tim McAreavey, VP of Omaha Public Power District, shares insights on crisis management as his city faced a power crisis during winter storm Gerri. Savannah Goodman from Google discusses how data centers can drive sustainability in energy systems. Urs Hölze highlights the evolution of data center efficiency, while Astro Teller presents innovative strategies for modernizing the electrical grid. Alexina Jackson from AES and Page Crahan from X explore using AI to optimize energy management, ensuring resilience and a clean energy future.

According to NASA, nearly two-thirds of all Western wildfires recorded over the past 75 years occurred in just the last two decades. Firefighters and fire researchers are seeing this trend first hand. As wildfires grow more destructive and more unpredictable, fire experts need better ways to account for extreme variability.Now, major advances in AI are helping to predict wildfire behavior, and protect communities across the globe. In this episode, we examine how data centers enable researchers, policymakers, and NGOs to mitigate climate threats like forest fires, reduce emissions, and enable a wide range of decarbonization solutions.Guests: Kate Brandt, chief sustainability officer at GoogleOlivia Gagliardi, smokejumper, Missoula, Mont.Matt Hancher, director of engineering, Geo for Environment team at GoogleLaWen Hollingsworth, fire behavior specialist, Fire Modeling InstituteKit O'Connor, research ecologist, U.S. Forest ServicePrem Ramaswami, head of Data Commons at GoogleJorge Rivera, director of data, ONE CampaignWatch our complementary documentary on how AI is helping researchers predict and respond to fires more effectively.

Where the Internet Lives is back for a fourth season. In past episodes, we’ve taken you on tours of data centers, talked to people who run the supercomputers that make up the internet, and showed you a world few people get to see.This season, host Stephanie Wong explores how data center infrastructure is critical for making the world a more resilient place.Over the next five episodes, you'll hear stories about people who are building data-driven solutions for some of the world’s biggest challenges – from the U.S. Forest Service using AI to better predict wildfires, to utilities using AI to improve grid resiliency. As communities all over the world grapple with extreme weather, rising energy demand, food insecurity, and public health threats, the role of data centers is more important than ever for supporting solutions.Subscribe to Where the Internet Lives on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you get your shows. And this season, we’ll have some film documentaries to complement our audio stories. The new season drops October 9. We can’t wait to welcome you back.

Hanoi Hantrakul is a musician and research scientist who works on audio and artificial intelligence. He is a former AI resident at Google working on creative applications of machine learning for music. His musical nom de plume is "Yaboi Hanoi."Project Magenta is a research group inside Google that started with a simple question: Can we use machine learning to create compelling art and enhance creative expression?As an AI expert and musician, Hanoi has worked on many different tools that expand the possibilities of musical composition. And thanks to the underlying technical innovations inside data centers, these tools are getting much better – opening the doors for musicians and non-musicians alike.Hanoi also won an international AI song contest with his composition titled “Enter Demons and Gods,” which mashed together AI instruments with musical influences from Southeast Asia.Listen to a full version of Hanoi's music, plus other AI song contest entries. Find out more information about Google's Project Magenta.

Mikko Green is an operations manager at Google's data center in Hamina, Finland. In 2012, when Mikko applied to work at the facility, he was excited about the prospect of moving back to the country where his mother was born.Over the years, Mikko has witnessed Finland's broader economic shift toward digital tech, which is now a top industry in the country. Finland is a top global producer of paper. But every year, paper demand falls – putting pressure on the industry. Faced with challenges in the pulp and paper industry, Finland is pursuing new forms of economic development. Data centers are one opportunity. For over a decade, Google has been operating a data center in Hamina, Finland, at an abandoned paper mill. The company has invested €2 billion in the Hamina data center and related network infrastructure – and hired workers who were formerly employed in paper production.Learn more about Google's investments in communities like Hamina.

Sarah Hess is one of a million union workers in the U.S. construction industry. But she’s a rare woman in the field. About 90% of the construction workforce is male – a number that hasn't changed much over the past three decades.Oregon Tradeswomen is an organization devoted to helping women like Sarah build careers in construction, manufacturing, mechanical, and utility trades. In 2022, Google gave $150,000 to the organization to support diversifying these industries. It's part of a multi-state effort at Google to support programs that elevate tradeswomen – some of whom will eventually build data centers.Sarah has faced many obstacles in her life: homelessness, drug addiction, and a life-threatening tumor. Her new career in the construction trade has helped her overcome many of those difficulties. Learn more about the Oregon Tradeswomen program.