Christoph Eymann’s Post

Challenging Big Energy - as traditional energy supply companies often lag in innovation, more companies are stepping up to invest in AI, transforming it from a high-energy consumer to a catalyst for greener, more efficient power solutions. This will make the difference in the future, more in this article.

#Techwordoftheweek: #sustainability. This week, #COP29 kicks off. In oil-rich Baku, no less. The UN is talking of a triple planetary crisis: biodiversity loss, global warming, and a crisis of waste and pollution. I like to think that – while people get their heads around the brutal need to consume less, pollute less – that technology can at least, support some solutions. So, I will be really interested to read the small print of the Green Digital Action Declaration, which will be launched by the #COP29 Presidency this week. Not because of the focus on how technology can support #sustainability goals, but because of the focus on AI and its whopping great carbon footprint. If you want more insight into the environmental impact of your #chatgpt requests to write you a LinkedIn post that gets clicks etc., here's an article that summarizes the issues neatly: #COP29 #sustainability #AI #ChatGPT #ClimateAction #GreenDigitalAction https://lnkd.in/evWa5KqT  

🔍 FAZ Article: Digitalization and Climate Protection – Enormous Potential Hey everyone! I just read an impressive article from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and I wanted to share it with you. It discusses the huge opportunities that arise from combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and energy flexibility. 🌍💡 📈 Digitalization as the Key to Sustainability Thomas Kiessling from Siemens explains in the article that by using energy networks intelligently, we can achieve enormous savings potential. Through digitalization and data management, many climate problems can be solved. AI plays a central role here, enabling additional energy efficiency and utilizing the thermal mass of buildings to save energy without compromising comfort. 🚀🏢 🔋 Rethinking Energy and Infrastructure A particularly exciting example is Siemens' Building-X platform. It allows buildings to be digitized and energy efficiency measures to be rolled out across entire real estate portfolios. This shows how open platforms can support sustainable and flexible energy supply. 💡 My Perspective The combination of AI and energy flexibility has the potential to shape a sustainable future. By using existing networks more intelligently and adopting digital solutions, we can not only reduce costs but also make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. 🌱💪 📢 Conclusion The innovative power and application of AI in the energy sector are not just a technical advance but a crucial step in combating climate change. It’s time to recognize and actively promote these opportunities! Thomas Kiessling, Sebastian Ritter, Afzal Shabaz Mohammed, Sebastian Thiem, Viktor Persson, Nejc Zupan, Sebastian Schreck, Monica Arnaudo, Joanne Guan #ArtificialIntelligence #EnergyEfficiency #Digitalization #Sustainability #Innovation #Siemens #FAZ Read the full article in FAZ for more exciting insights. 🌍📊

https://lnkd.in/dZN3GwSu Definitely a project to decarbonise the energy and water security. Needless to say the materials dependence on industries. #AI #Tech #Datacentres #Climatechange

Tech predictions for 2025 and beyond by Werner Vogels Amazon VP & CTO Mission-driven workforce: Employees increasingly seek purpose-driven roles, with Millennials and Gen Z prioritizing sustainability, social equity, and well-being over profit. Energy innovation: Technological advancements in energy efficiency, renewable sources, and nuclear power (e.g., SMRs) are essential for meeting growing energy demands. Disinformation solutions: AI tools, OSINT, and fact-checking innovations are empowering individuals and journalists to combat misinformation. Disaster preparedness: Hyperlocal, community-sourced data is revolutionizing disaster response through decentralized systems. Intentional technology: A shift toward devices promoting mindfulness and deep focus is emerging, balancing digital connectivity with well-being. Source: https://lnkd.in/g5BjJZ7X

🍀 Energy-hungry AI stresses Ireland's power. ⚡ As AI models grow more advanced, they consume more energy. #BigTech leaders are looking to alternative energy sources like nuclear to power their advanced AI systems. Mathieu Pollet reports for POLITICO Europe that Ireland - the "heart of [Europe's] #tech scene" - may be struggling to keep its power grid up to the demand of AI. These systems could double their #energy use by 2026. Ireland has yet to upgrade and expand its grid to meet today's and tomorrow's digitized economy. This means Ireland's many data centers are at risk of being capped. Pollet notes that #Ireland's data centers exceeded the consumption of electricity by urban homes for the first time last year. This is poised to increase hereafter. Climate leaders acknowledge that increasing demand for #data center development cannot be accommodated sustainably in the short term. Meeting AI demands is pushing critical infrastructure to its limits and jeopardizing climate goals. How will Ireland's decisions about these matters shape how AI systems could be trusted by consumers? EthicAI builds #trust in AI solutions. We believe ethics-driven AI helps our clients minimise the risks and maximise the benefits of AI deployment. #TrustworthyAI #AINews #AIStrategy #AIForBusiness #ethicalAI #AIethics #genAI #responsibleAI #AIgovernance #AIpolicy #Sustainability (🔗 to article in comments)

How sustainable is our digital transformation? Every click, search, and data transaction contributes to a hidden – yet significant – environmental cost. 20 Minuten spoke to our founding and board member Martin Casaulta about the impact of AI on energy usage, revealing just how energy-intensive our “invisible” digital world has become. Read the full article in German here (French version in comments):

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 #𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬, 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬. Two key issues that stand out to me are: insufficient power capacity for data centres, and a persistent talent shortage, particularly at a senior level. Addressing this latter point could involve actively recruiting experienced professionals from outside the traditional data centre industry. Here's a highlight of what the plan entails: 1. Significant Increase in AI Computing Power: The Government seeks a 20-fold increase in public AI computing power by 2030, aiming to support the development of UK-produced AI models. This includes building a new "supercomputer" and creating a national data library for researchers. 2. AI Growth Zones: These zones will streamline the planning process for datacentres and accelerate the provision of clean energy. Additionally, a headhunting unit will be established to recruit elite AI talent, potentially enhancing UK-based and global AI collaborations. 3. Pilot AI-Powered Public Services: Rapidly pilot AI services to improve public sector efficiency and productivity. While this presents opportunities for innovation, it also carries the risk of job reductions due to automation. 4. Environmental Concerns: AI's energy consumption is immense. An AI energy council will push for investment in renewable energy for data centres and small nuclear reactors to mitigate environmental costs. 5. Copyright Framework Changes: Encouraging competitive text and data-mining practices means allowing the use of copyrighted materials unless creators opt out. This proposed overhaul could significantly impact the UK's creative industries, sparking ongoing debate. Addressing these critical areas is essential for the UK to become a leader in AI innovation. However, we must find solutions to the accessibility of talent and energy resources to truly see the plan's ambitions come to life. What do you think? #UKTech #AIActionPlan #DataCentre #DataCenter

The rapacious growth of Artificial Intelligence (#AI) is expected to cause a dramatic increase in demand for energy and competition for land with access to utilities in the #US. Our Research analysts consider these developments, and the knock-on effects on the grid, consumers and corporate sustainability strategies. #Barclays

The recent unveiling of the Stargate AI Project—a $500 billion collaboration between OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and many various US tech companies—has set the tech world a flutter. With President Trump championing this ambitious initiative, we should all be asking: Where is all this energy going to come from? Here’s the key insight: AI needs power, and lots of it. Each planned data center under Stargate requires at least 50 megawatts. That’s massive. Texas, the current frontrunner for data center development, already has grid challenges. Renewables like solar and wind are intermittent, and nuclear—while stable—raises cultural concerns for SoftBank, especially in the wake of Fukushima. To put the $500 billion number in perspective, the annual U.S. military budget is publicly shared to be $820 billion. This underscores just how ambitious and critical the Stargate AI Project is, not just for technological advancement but for economic and global positioning. So why should we in Canada care? Because we have something they need: a vast, reliable supply of energy. Canada’s hydro resources alone provide one of the cleanest and most consistent power infrastructures in the world. As the U.S. wrestles with balancing new data centers against strained grids, Canada’s role could become more critical—and more strategic—by the day. For Canada, this is more than just an export opportunity; it’s a bargaining chip. In an era where technological dominance hinges on powering advanced AI, our surplus of clean energy could offer a pivotal advantage. It’s no coincidence that the White House has Canada on its mind: whether it’s forging strategic partnerships or negotiating trade agreements, energy is currency. Stargate represents not just an American ambition, but a global AI race. For all of us—tech leaders, policymakers, innovators—the call to action is clear: 1. Infrastructure Investment: Balancing local grids and large-scale data demands requires government and private-sector cooperation. 2. Sustainable Solutions: Renewable sources must play a role, but backup systems—from conventional power to nuclear—are key to 24/7 AI operations. 3. Cross-Border Collaboration: Canada’s abundant, reliable energy can be the linchpin for this monumental project. If we get this right, Stargate could spur unprecedented advances in AI while opening up new economic frontiers on both sides of the border. 🇺🇸🇨🇦 #AI #Technology #Innovation #Canada #StargateAI #Power #Leadership