Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change

Audioblog 14: Generative AI — The Power and the Glory

Jan 22, 2025

Can AI be a hero or a villain for the climate? The podcast dives into how AI is reshaping global energy needs and the challenges of keeping up with the power demands of data centers. It examines the economic nuances of AI services and their implications for both tech companies and consumers. Additionally, listeners learn about advancements in AI efficiency and the pressing call for clean energy amid increasing carbon footprints. A fascinating comparison of human intelligence versus generative AI wraps up the discussion, inviting community engagement.

55:57

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes the urgent need for tech companies to secure sustainable energy sources as AI demand surges, revealing a critical energy transition.

Concerns over AI's power consumption highlight potential economic disparities, necessitating collaboration between technology firms and energy systems for viable solutions.

Deep dives

The Awakening of AI in the Energy Sector

2024 marks a significant shift in the energy sector as both AI technology and energy demand become inexorably linked. Major tech companies, recognizing the limitations imposed by electricity needs, are facing pressure to secure dispatchable power sources, leading to a race for energy resources. This reflects a paradigm shift where data centers are no longer peripheral but are central to energy discussions and forecasts. The podcast highlights a dramatic increase in awareness and investment in this intersection of AI and energy, suggesting profound implications for both industries.

Intro

8min

The Future of Data Center Energy Consumption

6min

The Future of AI and Its Power Demands

15min

AI Innovations and Energy Efficiency

25min

Exploring the Balance of Human Intelligence and Generative AI

3min

Will AI be a disaster for the climate, or a saviour in disguise? How is AI reshaping power needs around the world? And does a lack of clean electricity spell the end of the AI dream, or a new round of fossil-fuel reliant data centres?

All this, and more in the audio adaptation of Michel's article for BloombergNEF: Generative AI: The Power and the Glory.

Read the full piece at: https://about.bnef.com/blog/liebreich-generative-ai-the-power-and-the-glory/

Leadership Circle:

Cleaning Up is supported by the Leadership Circle, and its founding members: Actis, Alcazar Energy, EcoPragma Capital, EDP of Portugal, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information on the Leadership Circle, please visit https://www.cleaningup.live.

Links and More

For a full list of background reading to accompany this Audioblog, visit: https://open.substack.com/pub/cleaninguppod/p/a-super-secret-ai-reading-list

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