Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion over the next five years in communities across the United States where it operates data centres.

The cloud computing company said the investment would target local needs, including education, workforce training, energy affordability, and the conservation of water and energy resources.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns in several US communities over the expansion of data centres, which provide the computing infrastructure required to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems.

Residents and local authorities have raised concerns about increased electricity demand, higher utility costs, water consumption and other environmental and community impacts associated with the facilities.

AWS said it had invested $276 billion in data centres between 2011 and 2025, with major projects and expansions currently underway in states including Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia and Mississippi.

The company also addressed concerns about the environmental, economic and energy implications of its data-centre expansion, noting that more than 100 proposed data-centre moratoriums were being considered across the US.

AWS Chief Executive Officer Matt Garman said the rapid expansion of data-centre infrastructure was necessary as countries compete to develop artificial intelligence capabilities.

He said countries that take the lead in AI development would be positioned to shape the technology and benefit from its economic and national security implications.

As part of its environmental commitments, AWS also pledged to make its data centres water positive by 2030.

The company said the target means it intends to return more water to communities than its data centres consume, adding that it had already completed 75 per cent of the work required to achieve the goal.