Amazon Inc. plans to test a groundbreaking carbon-removal material in its data centers, which face increasing environmental pressures due to the growing energy demands of AI systems, according to the startup involved- Orbital Materials. 

Jonathan Godwin, CEO of Orbital Materials, revealed that the material was developed using AI from the startup. "It functions like a sponge at the atomic scale, with cavities tailored to selectively trap CO2 while ignoring other substances," Godwin explained. Godwin noted that potential cost reductions are a key advantage, as the material adds about 10 percent to the hourly cost of renting a GPU chip for AI training—significantly cheaper than traditional carbon offsetting methods.

Data centers, however, are becoming more resource-intensive, requiring higher energy levels to support AI advancements and substantial water for cooling. This creates challenges for companies like Amazon, which has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading cloud computing provider by revenue, will initiate a trial of the innovative material at one of its data centers in 2025, as part of a three-year collaboration with Orbital. "The deal also grants Orbital access to AWS technology and allows its open-source AI tools to be available for AWS clients," added Godwin.