AI Could Force a Blue State Exodus for Years

The discussion highlights the increasing demand for electricity due to AI, predicting it could match Japan’s current consumption in five years. It addresses the migration of people to high-demand areas and the unprecedented physical limitations facing new technologies like AI,…

Published May 24, 2024, 8:03am ET · 2 min read

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

A densely packed silhouette of multiple electricity transmission towers and power lines against a twilight sky. The sky transitions from deep blue at the top to lighter purple and a hint of soft pinkish-orange near the horizon. The complex network of metal structures and cables fills the frame, creating a sense of industrial scale and power.
The intricate network of power lines symbolizes the immense infrastructure challenges facing the U.S. energy grid. Experts warn this vital system may not be ready for the rapidly escalating demands of AI data centers. © David McNew / Getty Images

The discussion highlights the increasing demand for electricity due to AI, predicting it could match Japan’s current consumption in five years. It addresses the migration of people to high-demand areas and the unprecedented physical limitations facing new technologies like AI, specifically related to power production and the electrical grid. The rapid growth of AI, compared to the slower development of past technologies, is also noted.

Transcript:

And you’re also having a migration of people out of blue states to areas that already have grown and have more demand, and that demand is going to increase.

Yeah, it will increase. Now, if you think about how this is going to grow, I saw a statistic that said in roughly five years, AI electricity consumption will be the same as it is for the entire country of Japan.

Which is staggering to think of, but I think that’s absolutely on line with what we’re going to see, because making those chips and just the capacity that’s needed for all that, it’s going to continue to skyrocket.

I don’t know if you and I have seen, certainly any time in the last few decades, a situation where you have a brand new technology. It’s very powerful. It’s very important.

And now you’re talking about a set of limits on that technology, which are sort of physical limits. This is software. It’s going to be driven by actual physical limits of things like power production and grid.

Yeah. And, you know, two and three decades ago, it took Amazon years to get off the ground. And as we discussed in other conversations, different products, it took Apple years.

And the AI basically, it’ll be two years this fall that the ChatGPT broke, and that Microsoft had made a big investment. It’s been two years. That’s nothing in the big picture.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Austin Smith

Austin Smith is a financial publisher with over two decades of experience as an investor, analyst, and advisor. He covers stocks, ETFs, Artificial intelligence and personal finance for 24/7 Wall St. Previously, he spent over a decade at The Motley Fool as a senior editor for Fool.com, portfolio advisor for Millionacres, and launched The Ascent to help reader take control of their personal finances.

His work has been featured on Fool.com, NPR, CNBC, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, AOL, Marketwatch, and many other publications. He is as an advisor to private companies, and co-hosts The AI Investor Podcast with Eric Bleeker. 

When not looking for investment opportunities, he can be found skiing, running, or playing soccer with his children. Learn more about Austin's investment approach here.

All articles →