There’s no AI boom without an energy boom
AI and data centre energy demand is outstripping new power supply. The solution? Build your own power.
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AI and data centres might be indispensable, but their vast and growing appetite for energy has reached a crunch point, says the writer.
PHOTO: AFP
A moment ago, I e-mailed a weighty report to a colleague. I also used an AI tool to tidy up the note in the e-mail and then used Gemini to answer a question for a story. In between, I looked at my iPhone to send a photo to a friend.
These simple daily tasks have data centres – and increasingly AI – in common. And energy. That’s a problem. AI and data centres might be indispensable, but their vast and growing appetite for energy has reached a crunch point.
