WASHINGTON: The arms race for artificial intelligence has gone nuclear. With announcements regarding atomic energy, which they hope will power a technology that is consuming electricity at an alarming rate, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are now attempting to outgun each other.
Conscious that AI is the next big thing in technology, the tech giants in the United States are spending billions to expand data centers around the world.
Goldman Sachs research indicates that data centers will consume 8% of US power by 2030, up from 3% in 2022.
By 2030, their power requirements in Europe will be comparable to Portugal, Greece, and the Netherlands’ current combined consumption.
The tech giants, who want to create the best AI systems possible by using ever-larger data centers that generate a great deal of electricity and CO2 emissions, are the driving force.
Nuclear power has emerged as a compelling option as tech companies look for energy sources that can meet these demands while still adhering to their zero-carbon emission commitments.