I completely agree. It is hard to keep a grasp on reality when the demand for AI-related good and services (chips, data centers, fabrication, software, etc.) is through the roof and growing exponentially.
You sound knowledgeable. Does it require AI to do the kind of image facial recognition and smart phone location being used to round up Trump supporters from January 6? Or, perhaps this is a lesser level of programming sophistication.
I would imagine that AI is of intense interest to world leaders, for many reasons.
I would speculate that several of these data centers are in Kiev, where they would have large amounts of reliable nuclear power.