ChatGPT's representative is headed to the White House for a discussion on AI's substantial energy demand.
Tech executives including Sam Altman from OpenAI, Google's Ruth Porat, and Dario Amodei from Anthropic are anticipated to attend, as per a source close to the matter, sharing with CNN.
The gathering, which has not been reported before, marks the first occasion where high-ranking White House officials will engage with tech industry leaders to brainstorm strategies for curbing AI's unquenchable craving for energy.
The event signifies how corporate leaders and government officials are being compelled to address the hurdles arising from the AI boom, which has garnered investor interest on Wall Street.
To attend this meeting will be Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, along with other top administration officials from the Biden-Harris administration, as well as Microsoft representatives, based on White House information.
Neither President Joe Biden nor Vice President Harris is expected to partake in the gathering.
The exponential growth of energy-intensive AI has given rise to concerns that the technology may overburden America's aging power grid, at a time when the Biden administration is attempting to expedite the shift from coal and other fossil fuels.
Though AI holds the potential to resolve pressing issues like climate change and cancer, it brings along equally complex difficulties, such as fulfilling the substantial demand for electricity necessitated by advanced AI systems.
In fact, a single query on ChatGPT consumes roughly 10 times more electricity than an average Google search, as per the International Energy Agency. By 2026, the AI sector is estimated to consume at least 10 times more electricity than in 2023, the IEA adds.
AI is predicted to trigger a 160% increase in data center power demand by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs. The energy needs of AI are so vast that it will necessitate a significant increase in US power demand for the remainder of this decade, the bank claims.
In a statement to CNN, White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson acknowledged, "President Biden and Vice President Harris are determined to strengthen US leadership in AI by ensuring that data centers are established in the United States while promoting the responsible development of technology."
Besides Zients, Brainard, Sullivan, and top climate officials Ali Zaidi and John Podesta, other US officials participating in Thursday's AI energy summit include White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and top climate officials Ali Zaidi and John Podesta.
The meeting stems from a July 2023 initiative by the Biden administration, aiming to secure commitments from leading AI companies to subject new AI systems to independent testing prior to public release and clearly label AI-generated content.
This day holds significance for Sam Altman, as he will participate in a 8 pm ET AI-focused special on ABC hosted by Oprah Winfrey. Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates is also scheduled to appear on the show.
The tech executives from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, such as Sam Altman, Ruth Porat, and Dario Amodei, are expected to discuss strategies with high-ranking White House officials to curb AI's energy consumption due to its impact on the power grid. The business implications of this issue are evident as corporate leaders and government officials are collaborating to address the energy demands of the AI boom, which is attracting investor interest on Wall Street.
