AI Has a Noise Problem—and Acoustical Standards Can Help
AI Doesn’t Just Need Computing Power. It Needs Acoustical Solutions. Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, communicate, learn, and solve problems. Behind every AI application, however, is a very physical infrastructure: the data centers that house the computing equipment needed to make it all possible. And as those facilities grow, another issue is getting louder—literally. The sound behind the AI boom Data centers can operate around the clock, relying on extensive cooling systems, fans, chillers, generators, and other mechanical equipment to keep computing equipment operating safely. Those systems can produce continuous sound that extends beyond the facility itself. Communities are increasingly paying attention. Just this week, a task force […]
World Standards Day 2026: Standards Start with People
October 14, 2026, is World Standards Day—a day to recognize the important role standards play in creating a safer, more connected, and more sustainable world. This year’s World Standards Day theme shines a spotlight on Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, highlighting how standards can help turn global goals into practical solutions. But behind every standard is something just as important as the technical requirements themselves: people. At the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), standards are developed through the knowledge, experience, and collaboration of experts from across the acoustics community. Standards Are Built Through Collaboration A standard is not simply a document that appears when a need arises. […]