America's answer to hotter summers has overwhelmingly been more air conditioning, and engineers are now looking for ways to keep people cool without driving up electricity demand. Why it matters: The need for cooling is surging. The issue isn't just how to generate more electricity — it's how to use less of it and ease demand when grids are most strained. Between the lines: A July study finds that keeping buildings cool without relying solely on AC will be critical for adapting to climate change. - AC is already nearly ubiquitous in the U.S., but that doesn't mean its electricity consumption has peaked. - "The market is saturated, but the use of air conditioning or the energy consumption for air conditioning will increase because…
Data centers have become the face of AI backlash, with celebrities, politicians and protesters pushing to slow their growth. Why it matters: America's sharply rising public opposition to data centers — which fuel our everyday use of the internet — could pose an existential threat to AI's growth. State of play: There are at least 4,000 data centers nationwide, with some 3,000 under construction or planned. - The centers are often big, windowless warehouses with few people in sight, and many are developed in secrecy . Driving the news: Data centers have become a focus of anti-AI sentiment, with 70% of Americans opposing their construction. - Former NFL star Jason Kelce announced a partnership between his Garage beer company and…
Water is fast becoming one of the defining fights around the AI buildout. Why it matters: After spending much of the past year defending data centers' electricity demands, major tech companies driving the AI boom are increasingly making the case that their water use is manageable too. Driving the news: Over the past several weeks, Google , Amazon and Microsoft have each launched new efforts to explain and justify the water use of their AI infrastructure, highlighting measures such as water replenishment projects, recycled-water use and new cooling technologies. - Nvidia — the world's dominant AI chip maker — claimed this week that water concerns could be largely addressed by its latest generation of technology. What they're…
Nvidia's chips are improving at such a staggering pace that it defies any historical comparison. Why it matters: Without these gains — which are drawing increased attention as AI transforms society — physics would slam the brakes on the data center boom. Driving the news: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Monday he expects the company to reap "at least" $1 trillion in revenue for its newest chips through 2027. - It posted record sales and earnings last month , fueled by skyrocketing orders from Big Tech data center companies. By the numbers: Nvidia has historically dominated the market. But its cumulative share has dropped from 100% in the first quarter of 2022 to 65% in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the research and…