Speaking at the French government's Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol emphasized the critical relationship between AI and energy.
Addressing global leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. Birol urged for intensified collaboration among the energy sector, tech companies, and policymakers to support the burgeoning growth of AI.
Opportunities Presented by AI
Dr. Birol highlighted the vast opportunities AI presents, warning that progress might stall if energy infrastructure does not keep pace.
"There is no AI without energy—specifically electricity. Thousands of data centers are set to be built in the next five years. But our analysis at the IEA shows that unless the energy industry, tech sector, and governments collaborate to deliver the necessary power infrastructure, many projects could be delayed or even canceled," he stated. He further emphasized the strategic importance of uniting companies and policy makers, assuring continued IEA efforts in driving global partnerships in this domain.
Energy and AI
With AI burgeoning as a pivotal technology, IEA's findings indicate a doubling of investments in data center construction over the past two years in major markets.
An AI-focused data center can demand as much power as 100,000 households
An AI-focused data center can demand as much power as 100,000 households. Despite this, AI also brings transformative potential to the energy sector, including enhanced weather prediction, accelerated battery chemistry development, and grid optimization. IEA is expanding its focus to ensure that the energy sector effectively supports this AI advancement.
Global Conference on Energy and AI
In December, the IEA organized an inaugural Global Conference on Energy and AI. This event unified pioneers from energy, technology, government, and civil society, setting the stage for discussions at the Paris Summit.
On April 10, a new IEA Special Report on Energy and AI is set for release, detailing pathways for addressing energy demands by data centers and exploring how AI innovations could revolutionize energy production, consumption, and distribution.
Observatory on Energy, AI, and Data Centers
During his remarks, Dr. Birol announced the launch of an Observatory on Energy, AI, and Data Centers, planned for release on April 10. This initiative, praised by Summit participants, aims to collect the most comprehensive data on AI's electricity demands and monitor the latest AI applications throughout the energy sector.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol addressed pioneers from around the world at the French government’s Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, highlighting the deep links between AI and energy and stressing the need for greater cooperation among the energy industry, the tech sector and policy makers as the development and uptake of AI accelerates.
Dr Birol spoke to an audience including French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who jointly chaired the event, along with many other leaders such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, United States Vice President JD Vance, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and CEOs including Google’s Sundar Pichai and Naver’s Choi Soo-yeon.
Opportunities presented by AI
In his remarks, Dr Birol highlighted the many opportunities presented by AI, as well as the risk that AI progress could be hampered if the necessary energy infrastructure is not planned and built out at an adequate pace.
“There is no AI without energy – specifically electricity. Thousands of data centers are set to be built in the next five years. But our analysis at the IEA shows that unless the energy industry, tech sector, and governments collaborate to deliver the necessary power infrastructure, many projects could be delayed or even cancelled,” Dr Birol said.
“That is why bringing together companies and energy policy makers is so strategic and important, and why the IEA will continue to work with leaders around the world on this essential issue.”
Energy and AI
According to IEA analysis, investment in data center construction has doubled in the past two years
AI is quickly emerging as one of the most consequential technologies of the time. According to IEA analysis, investment in data center construction has doubled in the past two years in key markets.
One AI-focused data center can consume as much power as 100,000 households. At the same time, AI holds enormous promise for the energy sector; it can help better predict weather patterns, speed up the development of new battery chemistries, and optimize the operation of electricity grids, for example.
The IEA has been strengthening its work on energy and AI to ensure the energy sector plays a supportive role in the AI revolution.
Global Conference on Energy and AI
In December, the Agency hosted a first-of-its-kind Global Conference on Energy and AI, which convened pioneers from the energy industry, the tech sector, government, and civil society and helped to lay the foundation for the energy outcomes of this week’s Summit in Paris.
On 10 April, the IEA will release a new Special Report on Energy and AI, which will look at pathways for meeting energy demand from data centers and AI, as well as how AI innovations could transform the ways in which energy is produced, consumed, and distributed.
Observatory on Energy, AI, and Data Centers
In his remarks, Dr Birol announced that the IEA will also launch a new Observatory on Energy, AI, and Data Centers on 10 April. The Observatory, which was welcomed by participants at the AI Action Summit, will gather the most comprehensive and recent data worldwide on AI’s electricity needs, in addition to tracking cutting-edge AI applications across the energy sector.
