AI's Energy Crisis: US Falls Behind as Climate Change Stresses Human Limits
Published on May 16, 2024 at 12:00 AM
Climate change is pushing vulnerable populations to their limits, with a projected 2.3 million heat-related deaths possible this century in Europe alone. Researchers are urgently working to understand how bodies react to extreme conditions, revising our understanding of survivable limits.
Meanwhile, whale deaths have become a political battleground, with some falsely blaming offshore wind farms. The scientific consensus remains that there is no evidence linking wind farms to the recent increase in whale deaths.
In the AI sector, energy has emerged as the primary barrier to progress. The US risks falling behind, struggling to provide the necessary power and infrastructure for its data centers. Unlike pre-2020 trends, efficiency improvements are no longer keeping pace with the surging electricity demand from AI models. To realize AI's promises without driving up electricity prices, the US must learn from other nations like China that have achieved energy abundance.
Finally, Rust, a programming language created to solve memory bugs, has risen to become a top choice among developers. Its evolution from a personal project to a widely adopted language is a testament to its effectiveness.