The Business Times
business-time-50

How Big Tech plans to feed AI’s voracious appetite for power

As data centres get more energy-hungry, the hyperscalers get more creative

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
Published Tue, Jul 29, 2025 · 08:00 PM
    • Last week, US President Donald Trump published an “AI action plan” which describes America’s stagnating energy capacity as a threat to the country’s “AI dominance”.
    • Last week, US President Donald Trump published an “AI action plan” which describes America’s stagnating energy capacity as a threat to the country’s “AI dominance”. PHOTO: AFP

    AMERICA’S tech giants are masters of the digital realm. Yet, as they bet stupendous sums on artificial intelligence (AI), their ambitions are facing constraints in the physical world.

    Shortages of chips and data-centre equipment such as transformers and switching gear mean soaring prices and lengthy waits. Just as pressing is access to energy, as utilities struggle to match the demands of Silicon Valley.

    Last week, US President Donald Trump published an “AI action plan” which describes America’s stagnating energy capacity as a threat to the country’s “AI dominance”. How is Big Tech coping with a worsening power crunch?

    Data centresArtificial IntelligenceBig TechTechnologyTech stocksAlphabet (Google)Meta (facebook)Microsoft

    TRENDING NOW

    Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin retains his title as Singapore’s richest individual despite a US$10.1 billion drawdown.

    Wealth of Singapore’s 50 richest diverges as OCBC, Sheng Siong boom offsets tech slide

    The Johor royal family has owned land in an area known as Tyersall Park for more than a century. 

    Massive tax bill clouds sale of Singapore land by Malaysian king’s son

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaking at a press conference in Ottawa, on Aug 22, after trade talks with the US collapsed.

    Canada’s fight with the US has far bigger stakes than trade

    “I consider myself lucky. I don’t consider myself successful,” says Ng Yih Pyng, the second-generation leader of Tomei Consolidated.

    What’s luck got to do with it? Everything, says Malaysian jewellery king Tomei’s chief

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More