The AI Effect on the Power Grid: Why Modernization Can’t Wait | Horizons скачать в хорошем качестве

The AI Effect on the Power Grid: Why Modernization Can’t Wait | Horizons

The AI boom isn't just about data; it's about power. After 25 years of stable electricity demand, the world's appetite for energy is surging again, driven by AI, data centers, electric vehicles, and more. But the U.S. power grid is old, creaky, and struggling to keep pace, creating a fundamental constraint on economic growth and national security. In this episode of Horizons, energy expert Dr. Michael E. Webber, Sid Richardson Chair in Public Affairs & Cockrell Family Chair #16 in Engineering of ‪@UTAustin‬, breaks down the unique convergence of economic, technological and national security reasons demanding rapid infrastructure expansion today. What You Will Learn: ● The State of the Grid: Why our century-old power infrastructure, which would still be recognizable to Edison and Tesla, is ill-equipped for today's dynamic demands. ● The Urgency of Growth: How AI, alongside electric vehicles and heat pumps, is forcing the power sector (including utilities and regulators) to rapidly re-learn how to build and expand capacity. ● A Dual Role for AI: How artificial intelligence both strains the grid by increasing demand but also holds the key to the solution—through optimization, faster technology discovery (batteries, fusion), and smarter grid management. ● Overcoming Bottlenecks: The need for collaborative, cross-sector efforts to streamline regulatory processes and investment to avoid inhibiting economic and quality-of-life growth. Dr. Webber emphasizes that the decision to modernize the grid quickly is no longer just an economic choice—it's a national imperative: https://horizons.compassdatacenters.com #Horizons #GridResilience #AI #EnergyTransition #DigitalInfrastructure #CommunityPartnership