Is There Enough Energy To Power Innovation? | The Brainstorm EP 54
Jul 31, 2024
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Join Sam Korus, the Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research, and Nick Grous, an Associate Portfolio Manager, as they dive into the critical energy challenges posed by today's tech innovations. They discuss how the rising energy demands of AI and electric vehicles could outstrip current production capabilities. The conversation also explores the uneasy landscape of monetizing AI, where mega-corporations invest heavily without clear returns while startups struggle to compete. Tune in for insights into the future of energy and innovation!
The growing energy demands driven by AI innovations may necessitate transitioning to diverse energy sources, with nuclear power emerging as a key stable option.
Challenges in monetizing large-scale AI models create competitive pressures, impacting investment decisions and raising concerns about the sustainability of energy expenditures.
Deep dives
The Growing Demand for Energy
There is a significant increase in energy demand projected due to the rise of AI data centers. While McKinsey forecasts approximately 385 terawatt hours required for AI by 2030, another projection expects this number to skyrocket to 2,300 terawatt hours. Despite this large figure sounding daunting, it still represents a manageable increase in the context of global electricity generation, which has been growing at about 2.7% annually. To meet the demands posed by AI data centers, a compound annual growth rate must increase to approximately 3.4%, a figure that appears achievable, especially considering regions like China, which has seen even higher growth rates in recent years.
Energy Production Solutions
Addressing the increasing energy needs involves tapping into various energy production sources, with a particular emphasis on nuclear energy as a stable option for data centers. The podcast discusses the unfolding potential of small modular reactors, although their deployment may take several years. Natural gas and diesel generators are being utilized in specific regions as short-term solutions, especially where immediate power is needed without relying on grid connections. The conversation highlights that proactively addressing energy shortages without waiting for grid solutions can be economically viable for companies bankrolling AI initiatives.
Monetization Challenges in AI Development
As AI technology advances, companies face uncertainties regarding the monetization of their large-scale models, impacting their willingness to invest heavily in data centers. Major players like Meta acknowledge that they do not expect monetization to occur for several years following substantial upfront investments in AI training. The challenge arises from competition, as larger companies can provide AI services for free, potentially stifling the market for startups that may struggle to charge for similar services. This situation raises questions about the sustainable path to monetization and the economic feasibility of extensive energy expenditure in relation to AI development.
We need more power! This week, Autonomous Technology and Robotics Director of Research Sam Korus and Associate Portfolio Manager Nick Grous discuss the growing energy demands of today’s innovations, whether the grid can keep up, and the path to monetizing new technologies which require high levels of funding like Artificial Intelligence.
If you know ARK, then you probably know about our long-term research projections, like estimating where we will be 5-10 years from now! But just because we are long-term investors, doesn’t mean we don’t have strong views and opinions on breaking news. In fact, we discuss and debate this every day. So now we’re sharing some of these internal discussions with you in our new video series, “The Brainstorm”, a co-production from ARK and Public.com. Tune in every week as we react to the latest in innovation. Here and there we’ll be joined by special guests, but ultimately this is our chance to join the conversation and share ARK’s quick takes on what’s going on in tech today.
Key Points From This Episode:
Exponential increases in innovative technologies are proving challenging for current energy generation techniques to meet demand
For more updates on Public.com:
Website: https://public.com/
YouTube: @publicinvest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/public
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