Data centers have always been voracious consumers of electricity, but the latest surge in so-called artificial intelligence has caused a dramatic increase in how much power those data centers consume. One solution is to design new computer chips that consume less power.
The region was supposed to be a “breakthrough” technology launchpad, with utility PacifiCorp declaring it would aim to replace coal infrastructure with next-generation small nuclear plants built by a company backed by Bill Gates. But that plan was put on hold when PacifiCorp announced in April that it will prolong coal burning, citing regulatory developments that make it viable.
“If we work together, we can unlock AI’s game-changing abilities to help create the net zero, climate resilient and nature positive works that we so urgently need,” Microsoft said in a statement. Amazon said it has been “the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for four straight years.” Google wrote that it is using AI “to accelerate climate action,” which is “just as crucial as solving for the environmental impact associated with it.
Tech companies acknowledge big new sources of clean power need to be found. At the World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Altman said at aevent that, when it comes to finding enough energy to fuel expected AI growth, “there is no way to get there without a breakthrough.” It remains unclear where, or when, those breakthroughs will arrive.