Is Mexico ready for the AI era? By Jackie Ojeda, artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy at an unprecedented pace. Businesses, governments, and universities constantly discuss automation, cloud computing, and data processing as pillars of the future. However, behind this technological revolution lies a much less visible discussion. The enormous energy cost of sustaining it. The age of artificial intelligence doesn't just need algorithms, it needs electricity, water, and infrastructure capable of supporting accelerated digital growth. And the big question is whether Mexico is truly prepared for it. The growth of data centers in the country reflects this new reality. According to industry reports, Mexico already has approximately 1,269 megawatts, MW, of installed data center capacity, positioning it as one of the most important markets in Latin America. Furthermore, the Mexican Data Center Association projects investments of nearly $18 billion between 2025 and 2030, along with the expansion of infrastructure to support the growing demand driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The problem is that this expansion is happening in a country already facing significant energy pressures. Experts warn that the electricity demand of data centers in Mexico could multiply several times over by 2030, driven by AI, while the national electricity grid faces capacity limitations and needs modernization. Globally, the International Energy Agency estimates that data center electricity consumption could reach 945 terawatt hours by 2030, a figure exceeding the total consumption of entire countries like Japan. The contradiction is clear. Mexico wants to position itself as a regional technological powerhouse, but its energy infrastructure still faces structural shortcomings. Currently, more than 60% of Mexico's electricity generation depends on natural gas, much of it imported from the United States. This means that the growth of the digital economy will also increase the country's energy dependence. Added to this is another critical factor: water consumption. Data centers require continuous cooling systems to operate 24-7, especially those geared towards intensive artificial intelligence processing. Several reports warn that the expansion of these complexes in Mexico is increasing the pressure on water and energy resources, particularly in states like Cuerataro, which has become one of the country's main hubs for digital infrastructure. Paradoxically, while Mexico seeks to attract multi-billion dollar investments in data centers, significant regulatory gaps remain. Recent research indicates that authorities such as the Federal Electricity Commission, CFE, and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Semernat, still lack specific mechanisms to comprehensively measure and monitor the energy and environmental impact of this industry. In other words, the country is accelerating its digitalization without yet having a clear strategy regarding its energy consequences. Mexico faces a strategic dilemma. It can leverage the rise of AI to solidify its position as a regional technology leader, or it can face uncontrolled expansion that further strains an already weakened energy infrastructure. Artificial intelligence promises to transform the future, but that future will depend less on algorithms and more on the country's capacity to sustain them. The real question is no longer whether Mexico wants to enter the AI era. The question is whether it has enough energy to sustain it.