[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] AI Energy Requirements

[Larry Wittig]

Right now various parties have bet $7.1B on Fusion. Folks usually do
their homework before they invest that kind of $$.
According to an AI response to a Google search, Commonwealth Fusion's
share is over $2B.

See: https://carboncredits.com/7-1-billion-investment-fuels-fusion-commercialization-is-fusion-the-future-energy/


On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 9:35 AM Jerome Slate <SlateMD at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Right now, the World Record for continuous nuclear fusion in a reactor is 17 min, 36 sec ± a few milliseconds, but who's counting? (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST),Hefei, Anhui Province, China.)
> According to Commonwealth Fusion Systems, their continuously operating electricity generating plant will be up and running in the 2030's.
> Their prototype at Fort Devens is not yet completed.
> Somehow, I sense that they may be leaning over their skiis a bit.
> Jerry
>
>
>
> On 1/1/2025 3:55 PM, Larry Wittig wrote:
>
> In the past few weeks, Commonwealth Fusion Systems announced that it
> will build its first "on-the-grid" fusion power plant in Chesterfield,
> VA. It cited "The announcement comes as Virginia’s energy needs are
> surging, driven by the rapid growth of data centers that power big
> tech operations. These facilities consume enormous amounts of
> electricity and water to process and cool computer systems." This is
> fusion, not the "Small modular nuclear [fission] reactors" cited
> above.
>
> On Tue, Dec 31, 2024 at 4:18 PM Jerome Slate via LCTG
> <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
> Dear LTCG Group,
> No worries about the AI energy load ~ 40% increase in USA energy output by 2050.
> Small modular nuclear reactors are coming to the rescue.
> We will have a live speaker on this topic on Feb 12.
> George W Griffith PhD from the Idaho National Laboratory, part of the Dept of Energy, will present this topic.
> We are all saved.
>
> Jerry Slate
>
>
> On 12/31/2024 11:05 AM, Robert Primak via LCTG wrote:
>
> The problem is, New Scientist has a paywall. To read the article we would have to subscribe. (Which might not be a bad idea for some of us.)
>
> But anyone can listen to this audio-only breakdown of the same fundamental concepts.
>
> How Running AI Computations Backwards Can Save Energy
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKAwpyj98m0
> The Singularity Labs | 12:35 m:s
>
> Fascinating discussion, and makes the concepts much clearer.
>
> BTW, reverse-time computation has nothing to do with time as in space-time. It's a technique of doing some calculations back-to-front, as well as front-to-back. It can be much more efficient in terms of CPU and NPU loads, as well as making the computations happen faster.
>
> Pruning of irrelevant background details has an even greater effect on computational efficiency.
>
> Given the huge energy demands of AI, as well as AI's tendency to use up a lot of GPU and other hardware resources, this is an important area of concern.
>
> -- Bob Primak
>
> On Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 10:10:16 AM EST, John Rudy via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
>
> I have been getting this very interesting magazine for a couple of months.  It is mostly short stories on a VERY wide swath of technical issues.  Seems to be UK based.  It is a weekly of about 40 pages, and  the 12/29 article had this article on the cost of AI computing and the way in which computers use so much money erasing data.  I only partially understand it but it appears to be well worth reading.  Then someone with more knowledge that I can explain it at a meeting.
>
>
>
> https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435231-300-how-to-fix-computings-ai-energy-problem-run-everything-backwards/
>
>
>
> John Rudy
>
>
>
> 781-861-0402
>
> 781-718-8334  cell
>
> 13 Hawthorne Lane
>
> Bedford MA
>
> jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>
>
>
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