The story you're not hearing about AI data centers | Ayșe Coskun

AI data centers, often criticized as "energy hogs" that strain power grids and drive up electricity costs, can be transformed into flexible assets that stabilize the energy infrastructure. Computer scientist Aisha Joshkun argues that because many AI tasks—such as fine-tuning models or analyzing medical images—are delayable and controllable, data centers can function as "virtual batteries" by soaking up excess renewable energy during off-peak hours and scaling down during high demand. This flexibility could bypass the five-to-seven-year wait times for new grid connections and prevent price spikes, like the 800% increase seen during the 2023 Texas heatwave. By utilizing AI-driven orchestration software to manage these workloads in real-time, the industry can align the growth of artificial intelligence with the rise of clean energy, ensuring a more resilient, affordable, and sustainable technological future.