Global data-center dealmaking reached a record high through November this year, fueled by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the growing need for powerful computing infrastructure. The surge in activity reflects a major shift in how companies are investing in digital infrastructure to support AI workloads, from training large language models to deploying generative AI applications at scale. According to a recent report, the volume of data-center transactions—ranging from acquisitions and leases to new developments—has climbed to unprecedented levels, with major tech firms, cloud providers, and investment funds all vying for space and capacity. The demand is particularly strong in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, where data centers are being built or upgraded to handle the energy and processing demands of AI systems. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, the need for reliable, high-performance data centers has become a critical bottleneck, driving up prices and intensifying competition for prime locations. Industry analysts note that this trend is expected to continue into 2025, with companies investing heavily to secure the infrastructure needed to stay competitive in the AI era.