Energy Central A Google exec’s POV on the energy bets worth making
Dec 18, 2025
Raiford Smith, Google's Global Head of Power & Energy, a seasoned technologist and innovator in sustainable solutions, shares fascinating insights on modern energy challenges. He emphasizes the urgent need for utilities to adopt diverse technologies and AI to enhance grid resilience. Discussing Google's strategic energy partnerships, Raiford advocates for scalable tech solutions. He also highlights the balance between tech innovation speed and utility conservatism, while passionately expressing his love for the dynamic energy industry.
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AI Is Driver And Solution
- AI is both the main driver of data center load growth and a key tool to manage that growth.
- Agentic AI and generative models enable reasoning agents that can optimize planning and operations at speed.
Place Many Strategic Bets
- Embrace multiple technologies and place strategic bets rather than seeking a single silver bullet.
- Use AI to improve safety, reliability, resilience, and economics while finding your competitive edge.
Imagination Fuels Unlimited Demand
- Human imagination is the unconstrained 'conditioned space' equivalent for AI demand.
- Unlimited curiosity means demand can grow nearly indefinitely unless tempered by planning and technology.