- Blackrock is in talks with governments about ways to fund key investments in support of AI.
- AI is seen as a major driver of global productivity, but it requires data centers and semiconductor factories with a lot of power.
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is currently engaged in discussions with several governments regarding potential avenues for financing critical investments aimed at bolstering artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. These discussions encompass various aspects, including initiatives to enhance power supply infrastructure.
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AI investment
BlackRock is discussing with multiple governments ways to finance essential AI initiatives, including enhancing power infrastructure, stated the CEO of the world’s largest asset manager on Friday.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink addressed the B7 business groups of the Group of Seven (G7) nations remotely during a meeting held in Rome. The gathering preceded the upcoming meeting of finance ministers and central bankers from the G7 advanced economies in Italy next week.
Blackrock estimates that the “trillions of dollars” of investment needed to build data centers and chip factories that support and power AI technology will require the participation of private investors, which could be a huge opportunity for pension funds and insurance companies.
“We’re in conversations with many governments right now about how can we bring private capital,” Fink said, adding G7 states could not shoulder the cost given the risk of a “fiscal crisis”.
“The deficits we’re seeing in the G7 are becoming a burden for my children, your children, our grandchildren.”
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Higher power demand
On Tuesday, Japan stated that it anticipates a 35% to 50% increase in electricity demand by 2050, driven by the rising needs of semiconductor factories and data centers supporting AI technologies.
Fink suggested that data centers are probable to be constructed in regions with lower power costs, potentially necessitating state subsidies in areas where energy expenses are less competitive.
“These AI data centres are going to require more power than anything we could ever have imagined. We at the G7 do not have enough power,” Fink said.
“I think this is going to create a real competitive challenge for countries.”
