The Ripple dove into the big question of data centers and their future in a tech-heavy world.

The group, full of investors and founders, talked about the massive growth of data centers, how they use power and water, and what that means for the climate. Ideas about smarter, smaller data centers came up, along with ways to use wasted heat and how investing in new hardware might pay off. People questioned whether tech like quantum computing is really the answer or just hype.

Key conclusions from the Ripple:

• Data center demand keeps climbing, and there’s no sign of it letting up.

• Making them climate friendly will take lots of ideas, not just one fix.

• Big investments are flowing into this space, especially for clean tech.

• Using waste heat and going modular are real options.

• Decentralized centers sound good but bring tough challenges.

• Real-world results, not just models, will matter most.

• The market is complex and fast changing—there isn’t one winning path yet.

Bottom line? The Ripple agreed it takes mixing tech, investment, and teamwork to make these data centers part of a better future.