The topic of nuclear energy has been surrounded by interest from several industries in the US economy, like the manufacturing and finance fields. Back on October 16, 2024, tech giant companies started using nuclear energy to power their energy-intensive data centers that train and run the giant AI models that are behind the world’s generative AI implementation. But what exactly is nuclear energy, and how can we use it to better our environment?
First off, nuclear energy is the energy released from the nucleus, the positively charged core of an atom. Atoms, for reference, are the building blocks of our society and they make up everything in the world around us. The released energy serves many purposes in our day-to-day lives. According to the Nuclear | Department of Energy, nuclear energy is used to create electricity, heat, and “contributes to nearly 20 percent of the electricity generated in America.” Nuclear power has been used without fail for the past 60 years to provide homes with low-carbon energy. But why are Tech Titans turning to nuclear power for their AI advances?
Lots of people have begun to take interest in the fast-paced AI development, like the introduction of ChatGPT. This spike in interest and usage has led to an unprecedented amount of energy required for the data centers. While this does provide the companies with the energy service they need, many environmentalists argue about the degenerative effects massive amounts of nuclear energy could have on the planet.
Unlike solar energy, nuclear energy is not a renewable source of energy; it isn’t long-term sufficient. In fact, nuclear energy is known to produce radioactive waste. As stated in the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “These materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years,” causing cancers and brain tumors. Citizens living in areas with nuclear energy plants should keep in mind the regressive health risks involved.
In recent news, President Trump’s campaign is interested in using nuclear energy as a means to power our energy-extensive data centers required for our modern technology purposes.
To summarize, though nuclear energy is an efficient method to power our technological advancements, it can cause lasting damage to the environment and to the health of people in the country.
Sources:
Browne, Ryan, editor. “Why Big Tech is turning to nuclear to power its energy-intensive AI ambitions.” CNBC, 16 October 2024.
“Nuclear.” Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/nuclear. Accessed 24 January 2025
