"Data centers already account for roughly 4% of U.S. electricity use, a share expected to more than double by 2030 as running and training AI models increasingly require gigawatts of power. Analysts project global data-center power demand could rise as much as 165% by the end of the decade, even as new generation and transmission infrastructure lag years behind need."
"In a feature story published this morning, I dig into how-even as tech companies are on track to spend more than $5 trillion globally on Earth-based AI data centers by the end of the decade-Elon Musk is arguing the future of AI computing power lies in space, powered by solar energy. Musk has suggested that the economics and engineering could align within just a few years, even predicting that more AI computing capacity could be in orbit than on Earth within five."
"The idea of orbital space centers itself isn't new. As far back as 2015, Fortune was already asking the question: What if we put servers in space? What's changed is the urgency. Today's power crunch has pushed the concept back into serious conversation, with startups like Starcloud getting attention and Big Tech leaders like former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, and Amazon's Jeff Bezos all turning their attention to the possibilities of launching data"
Data centers already account for roughly 4% of U.S. electricity use, a share expected to more than double by 2030 as running and training AI models increasingly require gigawatts of power. Analysts project global data-center power demand could rise as much as 165% by the end of the decade, even as new generation and transmission infrastructure lag years behind. Hyperscalers are building gas plants, exploring small nuclear reactors, and seeking power wherever possible. Proposals for orbital solar-powered data centers have resurfaced amid urgency, while companies plan more than $5 trillion in Earth-based AI data-center spending. Industry moves include Accenture linking promotions to AI logins, World Labs raising $1 billion, and Nvidia's deal with Meta.
Read at Fortune
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