ChatGPT experienced an outage affecting thousands of users. OpenAI is working to restore service. Separately, Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris is launching MONIIFY, a digital business newsroom targeting young audiences in emerging markets. It will focus on tech, AI, finance and energy industries, offering daily updates and investment insights across various media formats.
Bitcoin mining companies are diversifying into AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data centres. While Bitcoin miners can adjust energy consumption quickly, AI and HPC operations require constant, massive energy supply. This high demand poses challenges for utility providers. Bitcoin mining facilities are significantly cheaper to build and run than AI/HPC data centres. To meet energy demands, tech giants are turning to nuclear power providers.
Donald Trump's US presidential election victory is expected to significantly impact climate policy, potentially reversing recent progress and affecting global emissions reduction efforts. Less environmental regulation and changes in trade policies are anticipated. Tech industry leaders are reportedly reaching out to Trump, possibly aiming to rebuild relationships. The election result may influence ongoing antitrust proposals against major tech companies.
AI technology's increasing water consumption is becoming a significant concern. Studies show ChatGPT queries can use substantial amounts of water, while major tech companies have seen notable increases in water usage. Projections suggest AI's water consumption could match that of a small European nation by 2027. Many data centres are in water-stressed areas, worsening the problem. Rainwater harvesting is proposed as a potential solution, with some tech companies already implementing such systems.
The oil-and-gas industry's annual ADIPEC gathering in Abu Dhabi focused on AI and energy. A survey of industry leaders concluded that AI is expected to transform the energy business, improving efficiency and reducing emissions. A private meeting between tech and energy executives preceded the event.
Meta has cancelled plans to build an AI data centre powered by nuclear energy due to the discovery of rare bees on the proposed site. The project faced environmental and regulatory challenges. Meta continues to search for locations with carbon-free energy for its AI operations, highlighting the tension between technological advancement and environmental concerns.
Hyundai has unveiled a hydrogen-powered concept SUV called the Initium, set to debut at auto shows in November. Production is planned for next year. The vehicle has a 404-mile range on hydrogen and includes a backup electric system. Hyundai is investing £4 billion in hydrogen technology as part of its carbon neutrality goal. Market availability is yet to be confirmed.
