14 votes

AI boom risk: Can the world's power grid handle the technology's meteoric rise?

3 comments

  1. [3]
    bengine
    (edited )
    Link
    This article reads as if the author asked AI to write it a crappier version of the Business Insider article it references. Companies can't just add infinite load to the grid as they see fit, and...

    This article reads as if the author asked AI to write it a crappier version of the Business Insider article it references.

    Companies can't just add infinite load to the grid as they see fit, and the grid operators will need to upgrade if new demand requests outpace current capacity. If they don't do that properly and the grid breaks is that the fault of the customers (or AI as suggested) requesting more power or the grid operators for allowing more demand that they can supply?

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      balooga
      Link Parent
      It very much reads as if English is not the author’s native language. A good editorial process could clean it right up. As for AI’s impact on the world’s power grids, I’m cautiously optimistic...

      It very much reads as if English is not the author’s native language. A good editorial process could clean it right up.

      As for AI’s impact on the world’s power grids, I’m cautiously optimistic that increased demand will force energy companies to accelerate their green transition timelines. If they’re faced with a choice to increase capacity by building more coal plants, or by embracing renewables, maybe they’ll do the right thing. Of course, in the real world capitalism seldom aligns with my hopeful naïveté so we’ll probably end up with the cheapest, most short-sighted, and most ecologically destructive option available. Alas.

      4 votes
      1. foryth
        Link Parent
        Companies can't be counted on to do the right thing, because the right thing almost always costs more.

        Companies can't be counted on to do the right thing, because the right thing almost always costs more.

        2 votes