Powering the Future of Generative AI: Are We Ready?
As generative AI surges ahead, unlocking its full potential might just require a surge of energy unlike anything we’ve seen before. The significant question now is: Is our current energy infrastructure prepared to handle this extraordinary demand?
The urgency of this question has never been more pronounced. With the rise of generative AI coinciding with other pressing national needs—like electric vehicle (EV) charging, advanced domestic manufacturing, and climate initiatives—the stakes are high.
The Energy Challenge
Public utilities and data center operators are already feeling the heat, quite literally, when it comes to powering generative AI. A single server that trains large language models can consume as much as seven times the energy of a typical cloud computing server. And unlike those conventional servers, gen AI systems often run at full capacity, around the clock.
To accommodate this escalating power requirement, major players operating hyperscale data centers are contemplating a future where their facilities resemble small towns, complete with onsite power plants, rather than the current setups confined to city blocks. However, creating this extensive energy infrastructure won’t be easy; it calls for new technologies, streamlined permitting processes, and an unwavering commitment to energy efficiency from generation to consumption. It’s worth noting that these data centers need vast amounts of water too, as they can emit up to 98% of their energy consumption as heat rather than computational output.
Navigating Security Concerns
Security is paramount when considering the far-reaching implications of generative AI on our daily lives and national security. The protection of foundational AI models, training data, and user queries is critical. While there are effective controls in place, the narrative has often been a mix of good news and bad news. Positive strides have been made, but successful cyber exploits reveal that many organizations are far too reliant on assumed security by others.
The current landscape lacks a unified security responsibility model, much like the one that has evolved for cloud computing. Given the rapid rise of AI in societal infrastructure, we cannot afford to repeat past security mishaps. The government has a pivotal role to play in this evolution by specifying security standards in AI contracts and promoting best practices through grants or regulations.
The Federal Government’s Role
A slew of federal agencies—ranging from the Department of Energy to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency—will have vital roles in addressing the power and security issues stemming from generative AI. Notably, some forward-thinking data center designs envision the use of small modular nuclear reactors for onsite power, necessitating involvement from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Additionally, smaller organizations like the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are crucial for maintaining grid resilience. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is also stepping up, developing models that enhance cybersecurity and operational interoperability.
The Convergence of Power and Security
Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data; it’s also about ensuring the availability and integrity of critical services. We often envision availability attacks as denial-of-service scenarios, but for generative AI, sustained threats to the power grid could inadvertently disrupt operations. With growing reliance on AI comes the increased risk of energy sector attacks from nation-state adversaries or criminal groups.
Unlike typical businesses, energy providers are heavily regulated, relying heavily on state and local governments for their operational funding and construction permits. This layered approach can complicate cybersecurity initiatives, as addressing the needs of diverse utility providers—with varying levels of resources and expertise—presents unique challenges.
A Collaborative Approach
To tackle the dual challenges of energy and security for generative AI, collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential. As AI technologies continue to weave themselves into the fabric of our lives and critical infrastructure, all organizations—government included—must be alert to the hurdles that can arise from adopting these evolving technologies.
The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.
