During the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the critical need for an energy breakthrough to sustain the future development of artificial intelligence. Speaking at a Bloomberg event, Altman highlighted that the power requirements for advancing AI are far greater than previously anticipated.
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According to Altman, the solution lies in environmentally friendly energy sources, especially through advancements in nuclear fusion and more cost-effective solar power with storage methods. He stressed the importance of these breakthroughs, stating, “There’s no way to get there without a breakthrough,” which signals a strong motivation for increased investment in fusion technology.
Altman’s commitment to this vision was evident in 2021 when he personally invested $375 million in Helion Energy, a U.S. private nuclear fusion company. Helion Energy has since made significant strides, including securing a deal to provide energy to Microsoft in the coming years. Notably, Microsoft, as OpenAI’s primary financial supporter and a key provider of computing resources for AI, plays a significant role in this endeavor.
This call to action arises from growing concerns about the sustainability of AI technology’s current energy consumption. With AI services worldwide already consuming substantial amounts of electricity for powering essential components like semiconductors, memory systems, and data centers, the need for an energy revolution becomes increasingly urgent.
Industry forecasts, such as those by GlobalData, predict that global AI chip revenue will soar to $130 billion by 2030, underscoring the escalating demand for energy-efficient solutions in the AI sector.
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