Google turns to nuclear energy for AI electricity demand

Google announced a deal with energy startup Kairos Power to supply its data centers with electricity from seven small modular nuclear reactors, which still need to be built. A recent study found that by 2026, data centers will consume more than 1,000 terawatt hours of electricity, about the same as the entire nation of Japan. Hank Jenkins-Smith, University of Oklahoma professor of public policy, joins CBS News to explain.

[ClearGlassStudios]

Just keep in mind people. The united states government has nuclear reactors that fit on a ship and sub. Clean technology existing versus being available to the public is two different things.

[WORLDPARTYFORUM]

Why has the AI ​​not come up with an intelligent solution?

[tvviewer]

Why is it ok for AI to use nuclear and we have had to use fossil fuel for the past 60 years?

[darkain]

Nuclear is the way to go. We need more nuclear power in this country anyways, especially if they want electric to go big. Nuclear has zero emissions so win win.

[AH_]

This is where an Arc Reactor technology would be ideal. Marvel and Tony Stark were onto something.

[randyhelgeson]

So now the real question is, can we make it to 2030 without the entire infrastructure collapsing using all that power?

[solapowsj]

Reliable, continuous power for many years; a step ahead for Google😊.

[leadershipclone]

cheap, reliable, and clean ... the goal should be to increase the diversity of clean energy and not decrease

[dbreardon]

Microsoft signed a deal back in September to reopen the Three Mile Island plant for use of nuclear power for it's growing interest in Ai along with OpenAi

[henaimtiyaz]

We need more climate friendly technologies which are resource efficient when we are facing a crisis. Thousands of people use AI such as chatGPT which utilizes high amounts of electricity and water consumption. Harnessing resources to the max without exploiting it.

[TheAndroidNextDoor]

At this point, if this is what it takes to get the country back on board for nuclear energy and new advanced reactors, I guess I'll take it. Not ideal but at least it's something.

[dreadfuldonkey]

The power company loves big corporations. How would you like to make $100, 000 power bill payment every month?

[onYaFace]

So now google building part of skynet's spine 🥴

[ClearGlassStudios]

We just need a sign this country over to google and the other big slum corps already.

[SteveSabbai]

Why not build those data centers in locations that is always cold?

[elizabethharmon]

Get rid of AI. Before it's too late.

[shanewilson]

Bwa ha ha ha. Kairos power type reactors have never been built. It will take a lot more than six years to do all the work to get a viable product to market. Even using a current technology would struggle to get built in six years.

[Skadi]

Oh no, this isn't dangerous at all.

[chris_panda]

How about to harvest energy from our star 😊

[catus-cactus]

Remember: after all of these decades, there’s still no way to safely bury, destroy or neutralize nuclear waste.