Overview

• The large yellow server capsule, built near Shanghai, is slated for submersion in mid-October to begin service for clients including China Telecom and a state-owned AI computing firm.
• Highlander claims about a 90% reduction in cooling energy use and says more than 95% of the facility’s power will come from nearby offshore wind farms.
• Engineers report greater-than-expected construction challenges and are using a corrosion-resistant glass‑flake coating on the steel pod plus an elevator to an above-water section for maintenance access.
• Researchers highlight complex subsea connectivity requirements and warn of novel vulnerabilities such as sound-wave attacks transmitted through water.
• Marine scientists say thermal effects on local ecosystems remain insufficiently studied, while subsidies and earlier trials suggest the concept may see niche use rather than replace land-based centers; Microsoft’s earlier Scotland pilot did not progress to commercial deployment.