Google has recently announced its support for the electrical training ALLIANCe (etA), a collaboration between the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electricians. The primary objective is to train a total of «100,000 electrical workers and 30,000 new apprentices in the United States» to address the increasing power requirements of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
According to Google’s latest white paper, titled «Powering a New Era of American Innovation,» the utilization of AI will unlock various positive economic prospects. However, to fully capitalize on these opportunities, the US power grid must enhance its capabilities and efficiency. This is mainly due to the substantial energy consumption of data centers used for AI model operations and training. The white paper predicts that by 2030, new data centers may necessitate an additional «15-90 GW» of energy, a demand that cannot be met solely through more efficient chips and model training. For perspective, the US Department of Energy highlights that 1 Gigawatt is equivalent to 103 offshore wind turbines.
Google’s paper emphasizes the importance of investing in alternative energy sources like nuclear power while also stressing the need to expand the electrical workforce. The document cites McKinsey’s estimation that by 2030, an additional 130,000 electricians will be required to construct data centers and manufacturing facilities. Presently, the number of retiring electricians surpasses that of newly trained individuals, with «nearly 10,000 American electricians exiting the field or changing careers annually, while only about 7,000 new entrants join.»
In an effort to address this gap, Google is investing in electrical training programs. While it would be beneficial to have a clearer explanation of how AI will utilize the additional power, Google underscores the «causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth.» Therefore, enhancing skilled job training in the electrical sector is a positive step towards meeting future demands.
This article was originally published on Engadget and provides valuable insights into Google’s initiatives to support electrical training for AI advancements.
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