Podcasts Other The Inquiry Do we have enough energy to power AI?

Do we have enough energy to power AI?

Published: June 27, 2024, 7:06 a.m.

Artificial Intelligence is something that\u2019s all around us in our daily lives. And even if we do use it, whether that\u2019s to search for a recipe online, make a funny photo, or ask it to help with our homework, every task that AI does uses power. That power is electricity.

Around the world there are thousands of data centres hosting computers that process all our requests. And as those tasks get more sophisticated, and AI becomes Super Intelligent, they will need even more electricity.

But as Super AI develops, could it become so intelligent that it is able to solve the very problems it creates?

Contributors:\nDr Mark Van Rijmenam, a strategic futurist\nKate Crawford, research professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and senior principal researcher at Microsoft Research in New York\nSam Young, AI Manager at Energy Systems Catapult\nRose Mutiso, research director of the Energy for Growth Hub

Presented by David Baker\nProduced by Louise Clarke\nResearched by Katie Morgan\nEdited by Tara McDermott\nTechnically Produced by Craig Boardman