US manufacturers' energy costs soar because of AI data center demand

Join the discussion

• Hacker News
• Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/big-tech-data-center... (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48821880)
  by ChrisArchitect
• Perhaps AI-focussed data centers are the next crypto mining industry, that hops from country to country wherever electricity is cheap. Until the locals get fed up & kick 'em out.
  by RetroTechie
• AI is being pushed as a productivity revolution. Sure, it is very good. But, the costs of it are astronomical and manufacturers and customers are left paying the whooping bills, in this case from energy. Who is really benefiting from this revolution?
  by raychis
• Not the consumer that's for sure. After all all these trillions are going to have to be earned back with profit. And that eventually ends up with customers, even if they don't pay for AI services it will through more expensive products.
  by wolvoleo
• I have been hearing a lot about "AI will help us create greener energy" with the promise to sort of close the loop (linking here one from MIT I came across a while ago: https://news.mit.edu/2025/how-ai-can-help-achieve-clean-ener...)

  Wondering: 1) How? 2) Is the balance gonna be actually positive or will manufacturers and customers pay the bill for it as you say?

  by jack1689