September 25, 2024

AI’s nuclear option

00:25:21

Summary

Main Topic: The revival of nuclear power in the United States, particularly with Microsoft's deal to buy all the power from a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, and the implications for the energy transition and the growth of AI.

Key Points:

Microsoft is buying all the power from a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, which will provide enough energy to power 800,000 homes.
The deal is part of a larger trend of tech companies seeking cheap and reliable energy to power their data centers, which are used for AI and other computing tasks.
The nuclear power industry has faced safety concerns and public opposition in the past, but there is a growing recognition of the need for clean energy to power the growing demand for AI and other technologies.
The deal is also part of a larger effort by Microsoft to reduce its carbon footprint and transition to clean energy.
The growth of AI and data centers is driving a surge in energy demand, which is putting pressure on the grid and raising concerns about the sustainability of the energy transition.

Participants:

Evan Halper, energy reporter for the Washington Post
Sean Ramos, host of Today Explained

The revival of nuclear power is a complex issue that involves balancing safety concerns with the need for clean energy to power the growing demand for AI and other technologies.
The growth of AI and data centers is driving a surge in energy demand, which is putting pressure on the grid and raising concerns about the sustainability of the energy transition.
The deal between Microsoft and the nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania is part of a larger trend of tech companies seeking cheap and reliable energy to power their data centers.
The energy transition is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a nuanced understanding of the trade-offs between different energy sources and the implications for the grid and the environment.

The deal between Microsoft and the nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to the energy transition, one that takes into account the growing demand for clean energy and the need for reliable and affordable energy sources.
The growth of AI and data centers is driving a surge in energy demand, which is putting pressure on the grid and raising concerns about the sustainability of the energy transition.
The energy transition is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a nuanced understanding of the trade-offs between different energy sources and the implications for the grid and the environment.

The deal between Microsoft and the nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania is likely to be just the beginning of a larger trend of tech companies seeking cheap and reliable energy to power their data centers.
The growth of AI and data centers is likely to continue to drive a surge in energy demand, which will put pressure on the grid and raise concerns about the sustainability of the energy transition.
The energy transition is likely to be a major issue in the coming years, with policymakers and industry leaders grappling with the complex trade-offs between different energy sources and the implications for the grid and the environment.

Show Notes

Microsoft needs so much energy for its AI data centers that it’s helping to reboot Three Mile Island, the site of the US’s worst nuclear accident. Evan Halper of the Washington Post explains. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and Amanda Lewellyn, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members A plaque at the site of the nuclear power plant on Three Mile Island. Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm your host, Sean Rameswaram.

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Noel King: And I'm Noel King.

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Sean Rameswaram: Today, we're talking about Microsoft and its plans to reboot Three Mile Island, the site of the US's worst nuclear accident. Evan Halper of the Washington Post joins us to explain.

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Evan Halper: Thanks for having me on the show.

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Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with the basics. Microsoft is buying all the power from a nuclear power plant. What's going on here?

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Evan Halper: Well, Microsoft needs a lot of energy for its AI data centers. And it's not just Microsoft - all the big tech companies are building these massive data centers to train their AI models.

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Sean Rameswaram: And why do they need so much energy?

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Evan Halper: It's because AI is incredibly power-hungry. An AI search on ChatGPT, for example, uses 10 times the amount of energy that a Google search does.

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Sean Rameswaram: That's crazy. And what's driving this demand for energy?

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Evan Halper: It's the AI arms race. The tech industry is competing with China and Russia for national security reasons, but also for reasons involving, you know, cat videos.

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Sean Rameswaram: [laughs] Okay, got it. So, Microsoft is buying all the power from Three Mile Island to fuel its AI operations.

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Evan Halper: That's right. And it's not just Microsoft - Amazon has struck a deal with a power company to develop a data center next to a nuclear facility.

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Sean Rameswaram: And what about the safety concerns? I mean, Three Mile Island was the site of a major nuclear accident in 1979.

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Evan Halper: Yeah, that's true. But the company that owns the plant, Constellation Energy, says it's in good condition and can be brought back online safely.

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Sean Rameswaram: And what about the environmental impact? I mean, nuclear power is still a contentious issue.

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Evan Halper: Well, the tech industry is pitching this as a national security imperative. They say they need all this energy to build sophisticated AI tools that can help us flag terrorist content, for example.

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Sean Rameswaram: That's a compelling argument, but what about the costs? I mean, nuclear power is expensive.

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Evan Halper: Yeah, it is. But the tech industry is willing to pay a premium for clean energy. And they're also investing in other forms of energy, like fusion and small modular nuclear reactors.

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Sean Rameswaram: Fusion? That sounds like science fiction.

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Evan Halper: [laughs] Yeah, it does. But Microsoft is investing in fusion research, and other tech companies are too.

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Sean Rameswaram: And what about the impact on the rest of us? I mean, if the tech industry is taking all this energy, what about our utility bills?

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Evan Halper: That's a great question. If the tech industry is taking all this energy, it could drive up prices for the rest of us. And it could also lead to a crisis in our grids.

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Sean Rameswaram: That's a scary thought. Thanks for explaining this to us, Evan.

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Evan Halper: Thanks for having me on the show.

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Sean Rameswaram: And that's a wrap for today. Thanks for listening to Today Explained.

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Sean Rameswaram: If you want to support the show, you can become a Vox Member today. Just go to vox.com/members.

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Sean Rameswaram: And if you want to learn more about your ad choices, visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

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Sean Rameswaram: Today Explained is a production of Vox. Our producer is Avishay Artsy, and our editor is Miranda Kennedy. Fact-checking by Laura Bullard and Amanda Lewellyn, and engineering by Patrick Boyd.

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Sean Rameswaram: Thanks for listening, and we'll see you tomorrow.

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