From nuclear to quantum computing, how Big Tech intends to power AIs insatiable thirst for energy
Summary
Critics, however, have said that as the pace of efficiency gains in electricity use slows, tech giants should recognize the cost of the generative AI boom across the whole supply chain — and let go of the "move fast and break things" narrative. It is just subsidized by the fact that tech companies need to get a product and a buy-in," Somya Joshi, head of division: global agendas, climate and systems at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), told CNBC via video call. Giampiero Frisio, president of electrification at Swiss multinational ABB, said the engineering groups data center business has enjoyed remarkable growth in recent years — with the segment on track to grow by more than 24% in 2024. French power-equipment maker Schneider Electric recently completed an $850 million deal to take a controlling stake in Motivair Corp, a U.S.-based company that specializes in liquid cooling for high-performance computing. Schneider Electric CEO Peter Herweck told CNBC last month that the all-cash deal, which is designed to bolster its offering to data centers, was "rich, but not overly expensive" and "fits great" with the firms strategy.