Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, will meet with senior US officials at the White House to discuss the energy demands of artificial intelligence on Thursday. This unprecedented meeting aims to address how to sustainably power the AI boom, which is raising concerns about its impact on the aging US power grid.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo are among the officials attending, alongside tech executives from companies like Google and Microsoft. The meeting seeks to explore public-private partnerships to maintain US leadership in AI while managing its energy consumption.
AI technology, while promising solutions to major issues like climate change, is also creating challenges. A single ChatGPT query uses about ten times the electricity of a standard Google search, and the AI sector's energy consumption is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. Goldman Sachs predicts a 160% increase in data center power demand by 2030, largely driven by AI.
Altman has invested in Exowatt, a startup focused on solar energy solutions for AI data centers, highlighting the industry's need for cleaner energy sources. White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson emphasized the administration's commitment to responsible AI development and infrastructure investment.
This meeting follows previous efforts by the Biden administration to ensure that new AI systems undergo external testing and are clearly labeled when generated by AI.