1. Home
  2. >
  3. AI 🤖
Posted

Microsoft Eyes Nuclear Power for AI Cloud

  • Microsoft is hiring a nuclear expert to assess using small nuclear reactors to power data centers for AI and cloud services.

  • Microsoft recently invested billions in OpenAI, maker of AI chatbot ChatGPT, which requires massive computing power.

  • Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates chairs TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company developing small modular reactors.

  • Microsoft signed a deal to buy electricity in 2028 from nuclear fusion startup Helion, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

  • Interest in nuclear has grown amid climate concerns, as it generates carbon-free electricity, but new smaller reactors are hoped to be cheaper and faster to build.

cnbc.com
Relevant topic timeline:
Microsoft is integrating advanced AI-powered features into its software and Windows operating system, as announced by the company's CEO.
Microsoft is hiring a Principal Program Manager Nuclear Technology to lead the integration of Small Modular Reactors and microreactors to power datacenters and develop a global energy strategy.
Microsoft is looking to use next-generation nuclear reactors to power its data centers and support its AI ambitions, as it seeks clean sources of energy to meet its climate goals. The company is specifically focused on small modular reactors (SMR), which are easier and cheaper to build than traditional reactors. However, challenges remain, such as the need for highly enriched uranium fuel and the handling of nuclear waste.
Microsoft is opening an AI hub in San Francisco called the AI Co-Innovation Lab, offering resources and assistance to startups and companies looking to integrate artificial intelligence into their work.
Microsoft is planning to power its large language models using nuclear reactors, with the goal of reducing the power-intensive process's carbon footprint and reliance on traditional energy sources.
Microsoft is forming a team to advance its artificial intelligence plans by hiring professionals to develop an energy strategy based on Small Modular Reactors and microreactor energy.
Big Tech companies like OpenAI and Microsoft are investing in nuclear power as a potential energy source for their energy-intensive AI models, despite the controversy surrounding nuclear energy's sustainability and waste management. Some experts argue that reducing energy consumption and increasing transparency are more efficient and environmentally friendly solutions to address the growing energy needs of AI.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has outlined plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across the company's customer solutions and tech stacks, with a focus on natural language processing and generative AI, as well as incorporating AI Copilot into its most used products and experiences.