OpenAI, the most advanced artificial intelligence research establishment in the world, just dropped its newest, ultra-realong video-gen product on the block—Sora 2. This cutting-edge technology requires a significantly higher amount of energy than earlier, simpler chatbot iterations. Given its increasing popularity, these issues beg some serious questions about its sustainability and environmental impact. With the company’s ability to meet energy demands under scrutiny, OpenAI’s plans for data centers in Texas have sparked concerns among local communities regarding water supply and energy consumption.
OpenAI’s leading edge Stargate data center is in Abilene, Texas, roughly 200 miles from the Permian Basin. That energy will largely come from natural gas produced in this incredibly rich and productive oil and gas region. This decision is an encouraging sign that the tech industry is increasingly recognizing this. Companies like Poolside are queuing up to place gargantuan data centers in Texas. Poolside’s complex will be more than 500 acres. It provides access to over 40,000 Nvidia AI chips, created in partnership with CoreWeave.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s vice president of global affairs, said there’s no time like the present to address energy concerns. The unprecedented demand for AI technologies only exacerbates this challenge. He focused on China’s unprecedented energy buildout. In the time it took to read this blog post, China has installed 450 gigawatts of coal capacity and up to 33 nuclear facilities.
“If we [as a country] do this right, you have an opportunity to re-industrialize countries, bring manufacturing back and also transition our energy systems so that we do the modernization that needs to take place,” – Chris Lehane
Unfortunately, the U.S. government just released an executive order promoting the acceleration of gas-powered AI data centers. This includes projects built by OpenAI, highlighting a governmental push to support the burgeoning tech sector despite growing environmental concerns.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, highlighted the reliance on natural resources to power these facilities during a recent tour of the Stargate data center. He went on to underscore the deadly effects of this energy consumption on both the climate and communities of color.
“We’re burning gas to run this data center,” – Sam Altman
Since the launch of Sora 2, conversations around OpenAI’s energy footprint have resurfaced. The hyperrealistic video generation capabilities even necessitate an order of magnitude more energy consumption than current day AI applications. As OpenAI grows increasingly powerful and dominant, various stakeholders are asking the critical question of whether OpenAI can fulfill its energy obligations in a sustainable way.
Local residents in West Texas have expressed serious concern. They worry that these data centers might compromise the region’s already stretched water supply. This part of the country is used to a drought-prone climate. Everyone from policymakers to the public fears that increasing energy production will exacerbate our all too persistent resource issues.
Unfortunately for OpenAI, it’s not the only one wrestling with these dilemmas. Poolside’s construction of a data center complex underscores the increasing competition among tech firms to build infrastructure capable of supporting advanced AI technologies. The new partnership with CoreWeave puts Poolside in a prime position to tap into high-performance computing capabilities, thanks to the widespread availability of Nvidia AI chips.
As both OpenAI and Poolside forge ahead with their ambitious data center plans, the overarching question remains: can these organizations balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility? Our collective road ahead will undoubtedly be paved by creative approaches to energy use that protect what makes our planet extraordinary.
