Is AI Friend or Foe to the Clean Energy Transition?

In this episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, Jason Bordoff interviews Laura Cozzi, Chief Energy Modeler at the International Energy Agency, about the IEA's recent report on artificial intelligence and energy. They discuss AI's growing energy demands, particularly from data centers, and the implications for power systems globally, highlighting that while AI's global electricity use is currently a small percentage, its concentrated demand in specific regions poses significant challenges to already strained grids. The conversation explores the balance between AI's energy consumption and its potential to optimize energy systems, touching on energy security considerations, the role of renewable energy, and the need for collaboration between the IT and energy sectors to ensure a sustainable and secure energy transition.