BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Warns Slow Data Center Construction Will Drive Up Inflation and Hurt Growth

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warned on Wednesday that delays in building out data centers pose a direct inflation risk and could threaten broader economic growth, as demand for artificial intelligence continues to accelerate. Speaking on the sidelines of the Berlin Global Dialogue with Bloomberg's Francine Lacqua, Fink argued that insufficient computing capacity will push up costs for businesses and consumers relying on AI services.

Fink framed the issue in straightforward supply-and-demand terms: the faster data centers are built, the more computing power becomes available, and the faster those costs can come down. Conversely, he said, failing to build fast enough is itself an inflationary force, not just a drag on technological progress. His remarks position data center construction as a macroeconomic priority rather than simply an infrastructure or technology industry question.