Argentina courts AI data centers as US and EU face regulatory headwinds

Argentine President Javier Milei is positioning the nation as a regulatory haven for data centers, attracting investment amid US and EU AI opposition. Milei has proposed AI-run nonhuman corporations, stating, 'We are not going to regulate artificial intelligence.' Tech figures, including Peter Thiel and representatives from OpenAI, Amazon, Google, and Oracle, have met with his team. Data center developer Crusoe also discussed U.S.-backed investments with Argentine energy officials this year. To attract companies, Milei offered a tax cut, lowering the corporate income tax rate to 15% from 25% for projects exceeding $1 billion. Green Capital, a Polish renewable energy company, highlighted Patagonia's suitability for its planned $3 billion data center, citing its climate and Vaca Muerta shale deposits. Despite incentives, concerns remain regarding environmental impact; residents near the proposed Green Capital site in Trelew worry about resource depletion pending environmental studies. Opposition lawmakers have challenged Milei's anti-regulation stance, sparking debates over data handling and land ownership.