Artificial intelligence is accelerating at breakneck speed — but with that growth comes a serious threat: it might literally switch off the lights. Elon Musk warns that by the end of 2026, the exploding demand from AI data centers could push power supply beyond its limits.

In an interview with CNBC, Musk said we’re approaching a critical tipping point: shortages of chips, transformers, and — above all — electricity could become the biggest obstacles to the future of AI.

“Once we solve the hardware bottlenecks, the main challenge will be delivering enough power,” Musk said.

⚡ Project Colossus: xAI Builds Its Own Power Supply

Musk’s company xAI is building a massive data center in Tennessee, which will require one gigawatt of electricity — roughly the output of a typical U.S. nuclear power plant. The facility will rely on natural gas turbines to fuel the intense computational needs of next-gen AI.

But that reliance has triggered concern from environmental groups. They claim the project may violate clean air laws by running gas turbines without adequate emissions controls or proper permits. They warn that Project Colossus could be a preview of what’s to come if AI growth continues unchecked and climate concerns are ignored.

🌍 Soaring Demand, Lagging Capacity?

Musk isn’t alone in his concerns. Leading tech and energy companies, including Google, are warning that the U.S. electrical grid can’t keep up. According to Caroline Golin, Google’s head of energy strategy, the company has hit a "harsh reality" — they don’t have enough electricity to power current and future data centers.

As a result, Google has started exploring nuclear power, as renewable sources — often dependent on unpredictable weather — are too inconsistent to support the 24/7 energy demands of AI servers.

Musk pointed to China as an example of rapid progress, describing its energy expansion as “a rocket heading to orbit”, while the U.S. lags far behind. Despite surging demand, infrastructure growth in the U.S. remains stagnant.

📊 Even Energy Providers Are Unsure

Virginia-based Dominion Energy told investors that electricity demand is rising steadily with no signs of slowing down. But others are more cautious. Constellation Energy CEO Joe Dominguez said many power load forecasts may be exaggerated, as developers submit the same AI projects across multiple states, skewing projections.

The result? Deep uncertainty. No one knows for sure whether the U.S. will have enough power for the AI revolution, or if progress will stall because of a basic — yet critical — issue: there’s nothing left to plug in.

💬 Can the world sustain the AI boom without triggering an energy collapse? And are we ready to sacrifice the environment for more computing power?



#ElonMusk , #AI , #ArtificialInteligence , #warning! , #worldnews

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