Access to computing capacity has become one of the strongest levers on how AI is used, and its limits are increasingly physical: grid connections, energy prices, and the financing behind data-center construction. This inquiry follows compute from capital expenditure to the grid to the rules that decide who gets it.

A Research Brief on compute disclosure is in preparation.

Status
Active
Domains
Technology · Planetary and Space · Governance
Why more than one
A decision about compute is at once a technology decision, an energy and climate decision, and a question of who governs access across borders.
Contributors
Samuel Marson, Gloria Chen, Ashwin Telang
Funding
Supported from the Institute’s general funds. Organizations interested in supporting this inquiry can read about partnerships.

Open questions

What energy and grid strategies can support accelerating computational demand without closing off climate and resilience goals?Planned format: Research BriefScoping