Big Tech is seeking enough energy to power AI
Image: AppleTech
Last week, thousands of executives gathered in Houston for the global energy industry’s annual flagship conference, where the dominant theme was a relatively new topic – artificial intelligence.
More specifically, the energy and tech executives in attendance discussed AI’s Garfield-sized appetite for electricity, along with the likelihood that it’ll create a significant new source of energy demand over the next several years.
Much like Tony Montana, AI has a strong thirst for power
While it isn’t clear exactly how much electricity new AI data centers will require in the coming years, most experts at the conference agreed the technology’s demand for power is poised to grow – and grow fast.
- John Ketchum, the CEO of utility NextEra Energy Inc., told attendees that US power demand – which has been relatively flat for the past two decades – will increase by an estimated 81% over the next five years.
- And Toby Rice, chief of America’s largest natural gas driller, EQT Corp., cited a prediction that AI will use more power than all US households by 2030.
The projected spike in demand could challenge America’s climate goals. The Biden administration has committed to eliminating all carbon emissions from the US electricity sector by 2035. But, in recent weeks, officials have said that goal could be jeopardized by the exponentially increasing energy needs associated with AI.
- Many tech firms have turned to fossil fuel companies to strike deals for future electricity generation, since renewable sources like wind or solar can’t always provide consistent power necessary for AI systems – and nuclear projects are too expensive and time-consuming to build.
👀 Looking ahead… America’s data centers are projected to account for 7.5% of all US energy consumption by 2030, up from 2.5% currently, with a majority of the increase attributed to growth in AI applications, per Boston Consulting Group.
📊 Flash poll (long-form): In your opinion, should the US first prioritize economic growth or climate goals when planning for the future?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that using nuclear power to provide the vast amounts of consistent energy needed for AI systems is a no-brainer, and should be prioritized by AI companies with high energy needs.
- Others contend that meeting ambitious climate targets will require decreasing emissions across every sector – and AI makes it much harder to stabilize, let alone shrink, the internet’s share of emissions.
- “AI Sparks Life Into Left-for-Dead Energy Sector” –Liam Denning, Bloomberg
- “The Internet’s Next Great Power Suck” –Matteo Wong, The Atlantic
- “AI already had a terrible carbon footprint. Now it’s way worse” –Irina Raicu, San Francisco Chronicle
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that even if AI isn’t the trigger, sooner or later a choice will have to be made between (1) preserving remarkable US economic growth that has brought (and is bringing) prosperity to many, or (2) flattening its trajectory in order to hit net zero emissions targets.
- Others contend that it’s unclear whether advances in AI power efficiency and energy generation will keep pace with the upcoming exponential increase in demand for AI services.
- “AI and Net Zero” –Andrew Stuttaford, National Review
- “AI Energy Use, Explained” –Joseph Polidoro, The Dispatch
- “AI Is Ravenous for Energy. Can It Be Satisfied?” –Christopher Mims, WSJ
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