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The Lawfare Podcast

Lawfare Daily: Tim Fist and Arnab Datta on the Race to Build AI Infrastructure in America

Mar 4, 2025
Tim Fist, Director of Emerging Technology Policy, and Arnab Datta, Director of Infrastructure Policy, delve into the critical challenges facing AI infrastructure in the U.S. They discuss the alarming increase in electricity demands driven by AI advancements and the need for specialized chips and data centers. The conversation also touches on the geopolitical stakes of AI, barriers like energy generation and supply chain issues, and the implications of current federal policies. Their insights highlight America's race to enhance AI capabilities against global competition.
41:56

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Quick takeaways

  • The development of AI infrastructure in the U.S. faces considerable challenges, including high construction costs and regulatory hurdles that threaten competitiveness.
  • To achieve leadership in AI, America must urgently address energy needs and streamline policies while competing against rapidly advancing nations like China.

Deep dives

The Importance of AI Infrastructure

Building the necessary infrastructure for artificial intelligence is critical as it extends beyond just software to include physical facilities like data centers that require immense energy and resources. The demand for specialized AI chips is growing rapidly, necessitating the development of significant computational power and clusters that can process large amounts of data. Companies aiming to lead in AI must focus on transforming the current energy grid and organizing massive policy coordination to support this growth. The U.S. faces substantial challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles and the risk of being outpaced by nations such as China, which are investing heavily in their AI capabilities.

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