We often think of software as having an entirely digital existence, a world of “bits” that’s entirely separate from the world of “atoms." We can download endless amounts of data onto our phones without them getting the least bit heavier; we can watch hundreds of movies without once touching a physical disk; we can collect hundreds of books without owning a single scrap of paper.
But digital infrastructure ultimately requires physical infrastructure. All that software requires some sort of computer to run it. The more computing that is needed, the more physical infrastructure is required. We saw that a few weeks ago when we looked at the enormous $20 billion facilities required to manufacture modern semiconductors.
