🦇🦎🐝Makes a change from bats or newts thwarting UK infrastructure projects.
"Plans by Meta to build an AI data centre that runs on nuclear power were thwarted in part because a rare species of bee was discovered on land earmarked for the project"https://t.co/LpJZDqMyMX— Harry Wallop (@hwallop) November 4, 2024
Meta’s plans to build a nuclear-powered data center for AI fell through after a rare species of bee was discovered on the land earmarked for the project, according to sources familiar with the matter. Mark Zuckerberg had intended to form a deal with an existing nuclear power plant operator to provide emissions-free electricity for the new data center, which was crucial to his artificial intelligence ambitions. However, multiple complications arose, including environmental and regulatory challenges, these sources said.
Plans by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta to build an AI data centre in the US that runs on nuclear power were thwarted in part because a rare species of bee was discovered on land earmarked for the project, according to people familiar with the matter.https://t.co/qBCC9IhlQZ via @ft
— Paul Triolo (@pstAsiatech) November 4, 2024
The discovery of the rare bee species adjacent to the plant site added significant hurdles to the project, Zuckerberg explained during a recent Meta all-hands meeting, according to insiders. This setback comes amid a wave of recent deals between tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft and nuclear power plant operators. These companies are seeking to meet the soaring energy demands of data centers dedicated to training and maintaining power-hungry AI models.
For perspective, one AI query can consume up to ten times the energy of a standard Google search. Meta continues to explore various options for carbon-free energy, including nuclear power.
Go bees! 🐝
On this #biodiversity-depleted planet, we need you a lot more. Without even starting on the other issueshttps://t.co/ogqKLK3J2i
— Natalie Bennett (@natalieben) November 5, 2024
Nuclear energy is increasingly seen as a promising source for stable, round-the-clock power in the ongoing AI arms race among Big Tech companies.
However, it comes with high upfront costs and complex regulatory requirements. Additionally, the nuclear industry in the West has historically relied on Russia for fuel, creating further complications.
Bee discovery disrupts Meta’s plans
Critics also point out the risks associated with the storage of radioactive waste, which can pose severe dangers to humans and the environment. In related developments, Microsoft announced plans in September to revive the dormant nuclear plant at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Amazon invested $650 million in March to build a data center near the Susquehanna Steam Electric nuclear plant, also in Pennsylvania.
Last month, Google announced it had ordered six to seven small modular nuclear reactors from the US start-up Kairos Power, making it the first tech company to commission new nuclear power plants. Zuckerberg faces mounting pressure to demonstrate to investors that his heavy investments in AI will yield significant returns. Meta’s capital expenditures continue to rise, driven by its need for advanced servers and data centers to support cutting-edge AI technology.
Had the nuclear deal gone ahead, Meta would have been the first Big Tech firm to leverage nuclear-powered AI, and it would have had the largest nuclear plant dedicated to data centers. One insider mentioned that Zuckerberg has been frustrated by the limited nuclear energy options available in the US, while China is rapidly expanding its nuclear reactor capabilities. In contrast, only a few reactors have been brought online in the US over the past two decades.
Meta reported achieving “net zero” emissions in its operations since 2020. Nevertheless, the quest for reliable, carbon-free energy continues as the tech giant navigates complex environmental and regulatory landscapes.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
