Subvolts take Cisco's CEO explores building data centers in space to meet AI's insatiable demand for computing power. Apr 6, 2026 - Developers
- Learn about the physical infrastructure challenges and potential future solutions for scaling AI workloads.
- Business
- Understand the critical role of networking hardware and the strategic considerations for future computing capacity.
A conversation with a major infrastructure CEO about innovative solutions for AI's massive compute needs.
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins wants data centers in space
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Decoder features Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins discussing the future of data centers, including the radical idea of building them in space. Robbins explains how Cisco's networking infrastructure underpins the internet, cloud, and AI. The conversation addresses the growing opposition to new data center construction and explores potential solutions to meet escalating demand for computing power.
The episode discusses how the internet and AI rely on big computer centers. Because building these centers on Earth faces problems, Cisco's CEO talks about a surprising idea: putting them in space. This could be a way to keep up with the world's growing need for computing.
This episode offers insight into the infrastructure challenges powering AI. Listeners learn about the critical role of networking hardware and the innovative, albeit unconventional, solutions being considered for data center expansion. It's for business leaders and tech enthusiasts concerned with the physical backbone of the digital world. The discussion connects to frontier labs' need for massive compute power, highlighting the logistical hurdles in scaling AI.
- HostNilay Patel
- GuestChuck RobbinsCEO, Cisco
- Guest: Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins
- Show: Decoder with Nilay Patel
- Length: 58 minutes
- Core Topic: Building data centers in space
- Cisco's Role: Provides infrastructure for internet, cloud, and AI
My guest today is Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins. Cisco is one of those big companies that everyone has heard of but most of us don’t have to interact with very much; they’re not really a consumer brand. But without Cisco's actual routers and switches and silicon — and the software to make those things work — there’s no internet, no cloud, and no AI.
But a data center is a really unpleasant neighbor to have, and there’s robust opposition to new data center builds all over the country. So I had to start by asking what feels, strangely, like one of the most urgent questions of the moment: Should we build data centers in space?
Links:
- Nvidia launches space computing, rocketing AI Into orbit | Nvidia
- Nvidia’s AI dominance expands to networking | CRN
- Amid rising pushback, 2025 data center cancellations surge | Heatmap
- Billionaires want data centers everywhere, including space | The Verge
- How Ciena keeps the internet online | Decoder
- Okta’s CEO is betting big on agent identity | Decoder
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
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- data center
- Nilay Patel
- A large building full of computers that power the internet and services like AI.
Questions people ask
- Why would data centers need to be in space?
- There is robust opposition to building new data centers on Earth, and the demand for computing power, driven by AI, is increasing rapidly.
- What is Cisco's role in the internet and AI?
- Cisco provides the routers, switches, silicon, and software that form the backbone of the internet, cloud, and AI infrastructure.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to The Verge.