Microsoft appears to be ramping up efforts to develop sustainable energy solutions for power-hungry artificial intelligence systems. The tech giant recently posted a job listing for a principal program manager to lead a nuclear energy strategy supporting AI growth.
According to the posting reported by The Verge, the role will focus on leveraging small modular reactors and microreactors to meet the expanding energy demands of training complex AI models. The description quoted Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella touting next-generation AI as “the new computing platform.”
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Microsoft’s new ideal candidate will have substantial nuclear industry expertise
The ideal candidate will have substantial nuclear industry expertise to guide Microsoft’s experimental energy program. They will also explore alternative, cutting-edge power technologies beyond nuclear.
The move highlights concerns over AI’s massive electricity appetite, especially for data center-driven deep learning models. Studies show single algorithms can emit as much carbon as five lifetime car emissions.
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As Microsoft races to advance AI capabilities, it appears to be getting serious about clean energy sources to sidestep sustainability criticism. Nuclear power offers a relatively stable option to fuel data-hungry models without major greenhouse gas impacts.
Other tech firms like Google also rely on nuclear and renewable energy to reduce AI environmental impacts. Yet carbon concerns remain as algorithms grow more complex.
Along with nuclear, improving efficiency through software and hardware optimizations remains imperative. But renewable energy supplies face reliability and scalability challenges for exponential computing growth.