Google introduced Monday that it has struck agreements with two regional grid operators to cut back its knowledge middle demand at instances when the grid is beneath extra pressure.
The tech large unveiled agreements with Indiana Michigan Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority to shift sure workloads to restrict the stress on the grid in a course of referred to as demand response.
“As AI growth accelerates, we recognize the need to expand our demand response toolkit and develop capabilities specifically for machine learning workloads,” Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s international head of knowledge middle vitality, stated in a press release.
“We want to be thoughtful about how we can continue to be a good grid citizen and see this as a vital tool for enabling responsible data center growth,” she added.
Google first launched efforts to make use of demand response in 2023. Nonetheless, it stated Monday that its newest agreements symbolize “the first time we’re delivering data center demand response by targeting machine learning (ML) workloads.” Machine studying is a subset of synthetic intelligence (AI).
Vitality has more and more develop into probably the most vital components within the race to develop AI. The know-how requires huge quantities of vitality to each prepare and interface with customers.
An Vitality Division report launched final month warned that blackout dangers might enhance 100 instances by the tip of the last decade because of rising pressure on the grid from AI growth and efforts to reshore manufacturing.
These issues about rising vitality demand had been mirrored in President Trump’s AI Motion Plan final month, wherein he referred to as for fast-tracking each knowledge middle and vitality building.