Power is caught in AI’s doom loop

We are in the middle of a radical political and economic realignment, with electricity infrastructure at the center of it. And this summer, the plot thickened. Power sector reforms are coming in fast and furious, across states, regional markets, and federal regulators. Local resistance reached new heights around the country. And data centers are scrambling politics as we near the midterm elections. Meanwhile, AI models are breaking containment in alarming ways. The leaders of AI labs are openly calling for a slowdown and warning of dire security impacts, even while the rush to release new models and IPO intensifies. Poll after poll shows Americans are increasingly distrustful and cynical about AI. And tech companies are stepping away from their claims about AI being a climate panacea, while they invest in the biggest gas projects on the planet. The future of power infrastructure is inextricably linked to all these forces. This week, we’re asking: How are they changing the trajectory of how power gets built? And what does responsible data center development actually look like? Credits: Co-hosted by Stephen Lacey, Jigar Shah, and Caroline Golin. Produced and edited by Stephen Lacey, Sean Marquand, and Anne Bailey. Get your ticket to Latitude Media’s Flex Summit in Austin, Texas on October 14-15. Open Circuit is brought to you by Building an Advanced Energy Ecosystem, where New Mexico's energy future is shaped. Join industry leaders, policy makers, researchers, and innovators at Building an Advanced Energy Ecosystem, September 14-16 in Albuquerque. Visit nmwomenlead.org/registration and use promo code CIRCUIT to save 10% on registration. Open Circuit is brought to you by FischTank PR, an award-winning climate and energy tech, renewables, and sustainability-focused PR firm dedicated to elevating the work of both early-stage and established companies. Learn more about their PR approach and how they can support your company’s messaging by visiting fischtankpr.com.