Pallab Bhattacharya’s Post

Around me, there has been a lot of discussion about the power we can harness through AI, alongside the rising concerns about the impact it has on energy consumption. Just today, I stumbled upon the New York Times article, "The A.I. climate dilemma", and here is what you need to know: - AI energy demands are skyrocketing, with data centers power consumption projected to increase by 160% by 2030. Did you know that a microchip can consume more power than the average American household? - Tech companies like Google and Meta are turning to nuclear power and even coal plants to support the energy-intensive growth of data centers. - Nonetheless, AI can create a positive impact, and it’s already helping big companies to reduce their energy demands. Foxconn decreased theirs by 30% by using AI to design a more efficient factory. Embracing AI's potential is inevitable, but we should put our efforts where it truly adds value. From now on, I’ll be definitely asking myself if AI is really needed to do a task or if a simple Google search might do the trick. 😉 #AI #Sustainability #PowerEfficiency

Think Silicon Valley owns the future of AI? Think again. Illinois, and Chicago in particular, have the power—literally and figuratively—to lead the AI revolution. When we talk about the future of AI, most people look to the coasts, but here’s why Illinois and Chicago are primed to take the lead: → Leading in clean energy: Illinois generates over 50% of its electricity from nuclear power. AI needs energy, and we’ve got the sustainable power sources to meet that need without relying on fossil fuels. → Strategic infrastructure investments: In 2023 alone, Illinois allocated $300 million to bolster our nuclear infrastructure. We’re not just playing catch-up—we’re building the future of energy to support long-term AI growth. → Explosive job growth in clean energy: Over 123,000 jobs in Illinois are in the clean energy sector, with Chicago driving much of this growth. This creates a thriving ecosystem for AI companies to thrive and innovate. → Proven capital efficiency: The median Chicago startup exit is around 4.8x return —outpacing NYC, LA or SF. Capital efficiency is critical in the competitive AI space, and Chicago knows how to deliver. The AI revolution requires massive energy, efficiency, and skilled talent—Illinois and Chicago are ready to step up and lead. (sources in the comments!)

AI's rapid advancement is undeniable, but let's not forget that it's a serious electricity guzzler! As global tech giants engage in the AI race, the demand for Datacenters and electricity is soaring. To meet this demand, they're exploring alternative energy sources like nuclear and geothermal, alongside traditional green options. Despite the energy challenge, AI remains pivotal for business transformation and increased productivity. The pressing question now is finding sustainable solutions to match AI's voracious energy appetite. #AI #Datacenters #EnergySustainability # AI # Tech

AI must find a way to comply with and contribute to the sustainability targets "A ChatGPT-powered search (...) consumes almost 10 times the amount of electricity as a search on Google... One large datacentre complex in Iowa owned by Meta burns the annual equivalent amount of power as 7 million laptops running eight hours every day... Artificial intelligence thinkers like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a major backer of Microsoft’s fusion start-up partner Helion, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who invests big in other fusion efforts, say breakthroughs in energy are achievable... They say AI is already being harnessed to make the power grid smarter, speed up innovation of new nuclear technologies and track emissions... Left unmentioned are the heavily polluting fossil-fuel plants that become necessary to stabilise the power grid... In the Salt Lake City region (...) the retirement of a large coal plant has been pushed back a decade to 2042, and the closure of another has been delayed to 2036."

It's funny how history repeats itself in the face of new technology. Every breakthrough brings waves of uncertainty, yet over time we humans learn to adapt, regulate, and thrive alongside it. AI is no different—while the fear of job displacement or unintended consequences is valid, it's also an opportunity for us to shape its impact positively, just as we did with electricity, cars, planes and nuclear energy. The real challenge is ensuring that the transition happens ethically and inclusively. Your reminder that change is what makes us human is spot on. Instead of resisting, we should focus on using AI as a tool for progress—one that can empower, create, and elevate society when implemented with care.

AI Data Centers are energy hungry. 🪫 What is more important AI or Climate Goals? 🌻 Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently made a bold suggestion. He believes we should build more AI data centers instead of focusing on current climate goals. Schmidt thinks that even if we miss our environmental targets now, investing heavily in AI could help solve the climate crisis later. But this idea raises important concerns. In 2023, data centers in the U.S. used about 17 gigawatts of power. By 2030, this could more than double to 35 gigawatts due to AI's huge computing needs. To put that in perspective, it's almost equal to the yearly output of the largest nuclear power plant in the U.S. AI has the potential to revolutionize industries and tackle complex problems, including environmental ones. However, we can't ignore the massive energy it requires. This surge in power demand could strain our energy systems and increase reliance on non-renewable sources. This brings up a critical question: Can we advance AI without harming our climate goals? One possible solution is to make data centers more energy-efficient and power them with renewable energy. Also, improving AI technology to use less computing power could help. What are your thoughts? Is focusing on AI expansion a good strategy given our climate challenges? How can the tech industry innovate while staying sustainable?

⚡️ A global rise in data centres is accelerating, with no slowdown in sight, driving #BigTech to rethink how to power the AI revolution sustainably. CNBC reporter Sam Meredith spoke to Somya Joshi, our Head of Division: Global Agendas, Climate, and Systems and leader of SEI’s AI task force. She points out that “the true environmental cost is largely hidden, subsidized by the need for tech companies to secure product buy-in.” Somya challenges viewpoints that frame #AI as a straightforward solution to our environmental challenges. “There is something inherently at odds with saying we operate within certain finite planetary boundaries and yet by exceeding them and continuing with the same extractive narratives, we are somehow going to solve the problem that we are in now.” #GlobalGoals #SDGs Get the full story:

🤔 The AI Revolution's Hidden Environmental Cost: A Tech Industry Reality Check While AI promises revolutionary efficiency gains, its power consumption creates unexpected environmental hurdles. 📊 The Numbers Tell a Story: • AI will drive a 160% increase in data centre power demand by 2030, said Goldman Sachs • Major tech companies are seeing significant emissions increases:  - Microsoft: 30% rise since 2020  - Google: 50% increase over 5 years 💡 The Innovation Paradox: AI can optimize operations. Foxconn used AI in factory design to reduce energy use by 30%. But the technology's power hunger is offsetting these gains. Tech giants are now investing in nuclear power and keeping coal plants running to meet demand. ⚖️ The Business Dilemma: Companies face a complex trade-off between innovation and sustainability goals. Eric Shmidt said the AI revolution's potential might be too significant to slow down for environmental concerns. 🔮 Looking Forward: Solutions, including Next-gen chips with improved energy efficiency, strategic data centre placement near renewable energy sources, and AI-driven optimizations across industries, are emerging. 💭 My Take: The AI revolution offers tremendous opportunities. But we need to be thoughtful about its implementation and environmental impact. #AI #Sustainability #TechInnovation #ClimateChange #BusinessStrategy #FutureOfTech

“In fact, the voracious electricity consumption of artificial intelligence is driving an expansion of fossil fuel use — including delaying the retirement of some coal-fired plants. 
In the face of this dilemma, Big Tech is going all in on experimental clean-energy projects that have long odds of success anytime soon. In addition to fusion, they are hoping to generate power through such futuristic schemes as small nuclear reactors hooked to individual computing centers and machinery that taps geothermal energy by boring 10,000 feet into the Earth’s crust. . . . As the tech giants compete in a global AI arms race, a frenzy of data center construction is sweeping the country. Some computing campuses require as much energy as a modest-sized city, turning tech firms that promised to lead the way into a clean energy future into some of the world’s most insatiable guzzlers of power. Their projected energy needs are so huge, some worry whether there will be enough electricity to meet them from any source. 
Data centers, the nondescript warehouses packed with racks of servers that power the modern internet, have been around for decades. But the amount of electricity they need now is soaring because of AI. Training artificial intelligence models and using AI to execute even simple tasks involves ever more complicated, faster and voluminous computations that are straining the electricity system.”

The rise of AI is reshaping the future of technology, and the data center industry stands at the center of this transformation. This article from CNBC highlights a critical challenge: AI’s rapidly growing energy demands. At Quantum Corridor, we’re focused on solutions that balance performance with sustainability, ensuring that as AI evolves, our infrastructure does, too. https://lnkd.in/giAi9aWG #QuantumCorridor #AI