- OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, emphasizes at Davos the vital role of sustainable energy breakthroughs like affordable solar power in advancing AI due to its substantial power consumption.
- Altman, to achieve his goal, invested in Helion Energy and advocated for sustainable options such as nuclear fusion and fission to meet the energy demands of AI.
OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman sparks energy revolution: $375m fusion investment ignites AI’s future, nurturing sustainable power for tomorrow’s technological triumphs.
Powering tomorrow: AI’s energy quest
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, emphasized the crucial role of an energy breakthrough for the future of AI during a Bloomberg event at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.
Altman highlighted the substantial power consumption AI is expected to have, beyond current projections. He expressed optimism, noting that sustainable energy solutions like nuclear fusion or more affordable solar power and storage are essential for the advancement of AI.
Nuclear fusion leap
Altman stressed the necessity of a breakthrough, stating, “There’s no way to get there without a breakthrough,” and underlined the motivation to invest more in fusion technology.
In 2021, Altman personally invested $375 million in the U.S. nuclear fusion company, Helion Energy, which has subsequently secured a deal to supply energy to Microsoft in the coming years. Microsoft, OpenAI’s primary financial supporter, also provides computing resources for AI development.
Altman expressed a desire for wider acceptance of nuclear fission as an energy source, underscoring the importance of exploring various sustainable options to meet the energy demands of future AI systems.
