US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order aimed at ensuring that the United States remains a leader in artificial intelligence. The order is intended to address the growing demands placed on energy infrastructure by the development of artificial intelligence, especially the huge amounts of electricity required for large-scale data centers. This move not only focuses on the progress of artificial intelligence technology itself, but also focuses on the energy supply chain that supports its development, reflecting the high importance the U.S. government attaches to the development of artificial intelligence technology and energy security. The order emphasizes the importance of clean energy and plans to use federal land resources to promote private sector participation in the construction of large-scale data centers and clean energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at ensuring that U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) is not lagging behind due to insufficient energy infrastructure. The order requires the Departments of Defense and Energy to identify and lease federal land to the private sector for the development of large-scale data centers and the necessary clean energy infrastructure to meet the "full power needs" of these facilities.
Picture source note: The picture is generated by AI, and the picture authorization service provider Midjourney
“The growing power demands of large-scale AI operations provide new opportunities to advance American leadership in clean energy technologies that will drive economic development,” President Biden said in a White House statement. Large-Scale AI Computing Workplace The huge demand for electricity has forced many cloud computing and hyperscale operators to actively adopt emerging energy technologies, invest in the construction of new gas-fired power plants, and even share facilities with existing nuclear reactors.
For example, Meta Corporation recently issued a request for proposals to acquire up to four gigawatts of nuclear power to support its long-term AI development plans. Maintaining AI leadership has become a focus of the Biden administration, which has repeatedly used executive powers and export controls to promote the development of American companies and limit the progress of competitors such as China and Russia.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement: "By mobilizing the full power of the federal government to accelerate and expand America's AI operations, we are ensuring global leadership in AI that will have a profound impact on our economy, society and... It has a profound impact on national security.”
The order mentions a variety of existing and emerging energy technologies, such as nuclear energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy and hydropower, which can meet the huge energy needs of AI. The White House hopes to avoid driving up electricity prices for consumers by matching energy production to data center demand.
However, some technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), may not be practical enough given the Biden administration's desire to quickly advance the development of these facilities. According to the order, site selection and partner evaluation are scheduled to be completed in 2025, and the facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2027. Although several cloud service providers have announced plans to adopt SMRs long-term, most deployments will occur in the early 2030s, which may be beyond the scope of the order.
The executive order requires government agencies to lease federal land to private partners, streamline the permit application process, and facilitate grid planning. Participants will still have to bear the cost of construction and equipment, and procure clean energy. Additionally, participants must purchase an appropriate proportion of domestically manufactured semiconductors, a requirement that could pose a challenge to data center operators since only a small number of processors used in AI systems are currently manufactured in the United States.
Highlight:
US President Biden signed an executive order aimed at promoting the construction of energy infrastructure in the field of AI.
Plans to develop large-scale data centers on federal lands and ensure clean energy supplies.
Participants face challenges as they bear the cost of building facilities and purchase domestically manufactured semiconductors.
In short, this executive order reflects the U.S. government’s dual emphasis on the development of artificial intelligence and energy security. It aims to support the rapid development of the artificial intelligence industry by ensuring clean energy supply and enhance the competitiveness of the United States in the global artificial intelligence field. However, the implementation of the plan also faces many challenges, including technical feasibility, cost control and domestic semiconductor supply, and its final results remain to be seen.