Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, emphasized the vital role of energy breakthroughs, particularly in fusion technology, for the future development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). During events at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Altman revealed his belief that the massive power requirements of future AI systems necessitate significant advancements in energy production.
The development of popular large-language AI models (LLMs), including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, currently involves using tens of thousands of graphical processing units (GPUs). These models require substantial power for both training cycles and ongoing operations, significantly more than most similar applications. Experts, including Altman, suggest that either a revolution in AI model training and operation or a breakthrough in sustainable energy production is essential for future progress.
Fusion energy, a concept dating back to 1879 with the discovery of plasma, involves fusing two lighter atoms to form a heavier atom, releasing energy in the process. The main challenge is getting fusion reactors to produce more energy than they consume. Fusion promises a zero-carbon solution for upscaling power grids, but there is no consensus on when a working fusion reactor will be realized.
In 2021, Altman invested $375 million in Helion, a fusion startup. Helion initially claimed it would have a working fusion reactor prototype producing positive energy by 2024, but the current status of this estimate is unclear.
Altman's investment, the largest he had ever made, constituted the majority of Helion’s $500 million fundraising effort. This move reflects Altman's commitment to exploring sustainable energy solutions to meet the growing demands of advanced AI technologies.
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