Energy Crunch: AI and Natural Gas Set to Strain Power Grids by 2027

A report from Gartner highlights the growing electricity demands of AI data centers, predicting that by 2027, new servers could require 500 terawatt-hours of power, equivalent to the consumption of 46 million households. This surge in demand, coupled with existing data center usage, raises concerns about potential power shortages and increased pollution unless new carbon-free energy sources are developed. Investments in fusion power, like Sam Altman's $375 million bet, are seen as crucial to addressing these challenges.