AI and Robotics will create hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs across the world over the next five years.
In the United States, trillions of dollars have been budgeted by Big Tech for new data centers, computer servers, and semiconductors.
But the industry is crashing into the inability of utilities to meet current demand for electricity, let alone to build out new sources of power supply, grid capacity, and transmission lines.
Big Tech companies are dramatically cutting back their planned projects and expansions for new data centers across the world, as regulators in the US and overseas are denying new permits for AI server farms.
High costs for electricity are running much hotter than consumer inflation, and creating deep structural problems in the economy. Households and small businesses are struggling to pay bills, and pushing for changes by lawmakers.
Closing scene, Guangzhou, Guangdong
Resources and links:
Reddit, r/economy, Growth in electricity generation China vs US
Growth in electricity generation over the last 25 years: China 🇨🇳 : 6,000%, USA 🇺🇸: 0%
byu/wakeup2019 ineconomy
World’s first commercial mini nuclear reactor ready to power 526,000 homes in China
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/china-mini-nuclear-reactor-power-homes
Bloomberg, Microsoft Pulls Back on Data Centers From Chicago to Jakarta
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-03/microsoft-pulls-back-on-data-centers-from-chicago-to-jakarta
Defense News, Power generation challenges could overshadow Stargate AI initiative
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/01/24/power-generation-challenges-could-overshadow-stargate-ai-initiative/
Wall Street Journal, SoftBank and OpenAI’s $500 Billion AI Project Struggles to Get Off Ground
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/softbank-openai-a3dc57b4
Bloomberg, Amazon Scraps €300 Million New Irish Plant in Blow to State
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-25/amazon-scraps-new-irish-plant-on-energy-issues-irish-times-says
AP, Ireland embraced data centers that the AI boom needs. Now they’re consuming too much of its energy
https://apnews.com/article/ai-data-centers-ireland-6c0d63cbda3df740cd9bf2829ad62058
NJ law to study data centers’ impacts on electricity grid advances
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2025/06/03/nj-electric-rates-law-study-data-centers-advances/83997198007/
Open AI’s massive Project Stargate is already struggling, may be scaled back
https://www.techradar.com/pro/open-ais-project-stargate-is-already-struggling-may-be-scaled-back
A transformer supply crisis bottlenecks energy projects
https://spectrum.ieee.org/transformer-shortage
PowerLines, Utility bills are rising
https://powerlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PowerLines_Utility-Bills-Are-Rising_2025-1.pdf
Vox, Why your energy bill is suddenly so much more expensive
https://www.vox.com/climate/420887/electricity-energy-bill-expensive-prices-rising
Why is my electric bill so high? New Jerseyans point fingers but what is being done?
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2025/07/24/why-is-my-electric-bill-so-high-what-to-know-about-rising-nj-rates/85330762007/
EIA, U.S. electricity prices continue steady increase
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65284
MIT, Confronting the AI/energy conundrum
https://climate.mit.edu/posts/confronting-aienergy-conundrum
Charted: The World’s Fastest Growing Jobs (2025-2030)
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-the-worlds-fastest-growing-jobs-2025-2030/
