The government is investigating ways to improve the UK's energy grid to meet the intensive demands of the growing AI sector.
The AI Energy Council, first convened in April, is a joint effort between the Ministry of Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, co-chaired by the secretaries of each state.
The council will meet at its second meeting on Monday, with energy providers, high-tech companies, OFGEM and National Energy System Operators participating in the event to determine the energy needed to implement a 21-fold increase in computing power over the next five years.
Improvement of UK's calculus power is a top priority for the government, and it has placed a big bet on the domestic AI sector to drive economic growth. The Ministry of Finance has given £2 billion to the technical sector to implement the AI Opportunity Action Plan, and has been designated to improve computing power.
AI is expected to be implemented in many industries, and the council is expected to determine which sectors could adopt AI quickly and what this sudden shift will do to energy demand.
“Ensuring researchers and innovators access to the processing capabilities they need will not only maintain their position as the world's third largest AI force, but will also place UK expertise at the heart of AI breakthroughs, improving our lives, modernizing public services, and inducing economic growth that will serve as the basis for planning for change.
“We have a clear look at the need to make sure that this golden age can be driven for British AI through responsible, sustainable energy sources.”
The first meeting of the AI Energy Council was concerned with how AI advances could be achieved without compromising sustainability requirements.
“We're making the UK a clean energy superpower and building the homemade energy that this country needs to beat bills and create new jobs,” Ed Miliband said.
“Bundling together the biggest players in AI and energy will help us discuss the role that AI can play in creating a new era of clean electricity for our country and meeting the power demands of new technologies in building clean electricity systems for our families and businesses.”
Sign up for free
Bookmark your favorite posts, get daily updates and enjoy the ad reduction experience.
Do you already have an account? Login
