Balancing Progress: AI, Automation and the Infrastructure They Demand

From the cloud to the edge, from quantum encryption to domain registration, artificial intelligence and automation are advancing across every layer of digital infrastructure. But as with all technological shifts, the most significant breakthroughs only tell part of the story. Behind every AI milestone lies a physical system: networks, data centres, electricity grids, regulatory frameworks – and human oversight.

In this latest dotmagazine issue, we examine how Europe, and particularly Germany, is addressing the growing tension between digital ambition and the infrastructure required to sustain it. It’s a moment of high-stakes choices: How can the continent position itself as a leader in AI while meeting binding climate goals and ensuring secure, sovereign and sustainable digital services?

Energy, infrastructure and the AI equation

Roland Broch and Cáit Kinsella, writing for the eco Association, confront this question directly in their article, “AI, Data Centres, and Europe’s Hard Energy Choices.” As they explain, AI’s rising compute demands are not abstract – they translate into tangible strains on power grids, cooling systems and long-term planning. In Germany, the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) is setting aggressive targets for data centres: mandatory PUE thresholds, renewable electricity use and waste heat reuse, all backed by regulatory enforcement. AI is raising the stakes, but also changing the calculus – denser workloads now make waste heat a viable energy source. In cities like Cologne and Frankfurt, we’re already seeing AI data centres repurposed into district heating hubs.

Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX, takes this further in “Navigating the Pathway to AI-Ready Network Infrastructure,” highlighting that physical interconnection must evolve in step with compute demand. Infrastructure neutrality, flexible routing and edge strategies are not just technical upgrades – they are essential for aligning AI deployments with energy and latency constraints.

The human element in an automated world

But the challenge is not purely technical. Olaf Pursche of the eco Association, in “AI Between Autonomy and Oversight,” cautions against seeing automation as an excuse to sideline human judgement. Responsible AI, he argues, depends on preserving human decision-making in critical domains – from public safety to legal systems.

Hamza Alamoosh of Corning Optical Communications, meanwhile, offers a business perspective. His article, “Innovate First, Monetize Later: Unleashing the Full Potential of AI” pushes back against the pressure to turn AI prototypes into revenue too early. He argues for patient capital, ethical experimentation, and a clearer focus on long-term societal value.

From data management to digital security

The issue also explores data and systems integration. CITIC Telecom’s Serve Bunnik introduces the concept of an AI Databank – a centralised, intelligent approach to managing enterprise data. It’s a vision for scalable, governed AI that doesn’t collapse under its own complexity. Shipra Kren of the eco Association shifts the focus to cybersecurity with “Quantum Cryptography: The Future of Secure Communication,” explaining how post-quantum solutions must be built into AI systems from the start, not patched on as an afterthought.

And finally, Simone Catania of InterNetX provides a broader perspective with “Beyond Registration Numbers,” drawing insights from the 2025 Global Domain Survey. The findings reveal how domain strategies and automation intersect – from managing DNS lifecycles to analysing digital presence trends across sectors.

Europe’s strategic moment

Together, these contributions capture a moment of strategic reckoning. Europe is not simply building AI systems – it is embedding AI into a digital ecosystem shaped by its values: sustainability, resilience, openness and trust. Yet, there is also opportunity. By linking AI growth to responsible infrastructure, Europe can define a digital model that is not only competitive, but globally relevant. The articles in this issue offer the perspective, nuance and practical insights needed to help decision-makers, engineers and strategists get there.