all 10 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[โ€“] 14 points 3 months ago* (3 children)

Yes, but some data centers have their own power source... Like xAI using 35+ jet turbines in TN/MS for power. Surely the fuel is cost effective! (Methane gas-FYI they're considered temporary therefore bypassing air quality safety laws too)

https://www.selc.org/news/xai-built-an-illegal-power-plant-to-power-its-data-center/

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [โ€“] 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    I think one of the silver linings of ai is that when the bubble bursts and/or they are able to develop more efficient models there will be a glut of power, which will make electricification cheaper.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [โ€“] 1 point 3 months ago

    The models themselves are not incredibly expensive power wise for inference its the training that is the real power pig.

    Eventually things will slow down as we hit the wall on this tech and people start trying to work around the limitations of it. With all the money in it right now though it might be a while.

  • source
  • parent
  • [โ€“] 0 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Local power in major cities can't handle 100% EVs in their cities currently without expanding generation. But as a country we have plunty of energy reserves.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [โ€“] 1 point 3 months ago

    The network capacity is the main constraint, needs crazy reinforcement to deal with more decentralised generation at the same time as power demand is roughly going to double by 2050 (not long in terms of major infrastructure projects).

    And that was all before AI data centres.

  • source
  • parent