### Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Energy: Opportunities and Risks

As artificial intelligence (AI) expands into daily life, society faces a technology that is no longer just a futuristic proposal but has become a reality with a tangible impact on numerous sectors, including the global economy. However, while there are many benefits associated with the use of AI, it is essential to also examine the potential risks, particularly regarding its impact on energy consumption.

### The Energy Impact of AI

The energy consumption of AI technologies is a critical topic. For example, running a standard query on an AI model like ChatGPT can involve energy consumption that is up to ten times higher than a traditional search on a search engine. As the complexity of AI models increases, the demand for computational capacity is continuously growing: it is estimated that the computing power required to train the most advanced models doubles every six months.

But how can we address the environmental impact of these technologies? Here are three key areas that could play a fundamental role in the decarbonization of data centers, the heartbeat of AI-based operations.

### Carbon-Free Energy

One of the main challenges for the data center industry is ensuring that the energy used to power them comes from renewable sources. The local electricity grid is a significant determinant of a data center’s carbon emissions: for instance, a coal-powered grid can generate emissions up to sixty times higher than a grid that utilizes renewable energies.

The transition to renewable energy sources requires significant effort in terms of infrastructure and investments, but it offers tremendous potential for decarbonization. In this context, many companies in the cloud services sector have adopted strategies such as renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs). These contracts allow companies to directly access energy generated by solar or wind facilities.

### Chip Innovation and Energy Efficiency

The operation of a data center is burdened by substantial energy consumption, particularly due to the processors managing daily operations. In fact, about 40% of the total energy consumption in a data center is attributed to data processing. However, the semiconductor industry is addressing this challenge with a strong spirit of innovation, focusing on chip efficiency. In the past ten years, despite a tripling of data workloads, energy consumption has remained relatively stable, thanks to improvements in efficiency.

During this innovation process, leading manufacturers are investing in cutting-edge technologies. For example, some modern GPU systems are designed to optimize energy efficiency, promising reductions in energy consumption and operational costs compared to their predecessors.

### Cooling in Data Centers

Another crucial aspect to consider is the cooling system of data centers. As processor power increases, so does the heat generated: cooling can account for up to 40% of total energy consumption. Currently, many data centers use air cooling systems, but emerging technologies promise to significantly improve efficiency, such as liquid or immersion cooling. These technologies offer opportunities to enhance heat management and reduce energy consumption.

### Opportunities for Investors and Innovators

The emergence of AI provides numerous opportunities for both investors and innovators. With a growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, there is a potential market for technologies that can support the decarbonization of data centers. Investing in…