Rural AI Push Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. It’s a pretty exciting time in rural America as major steps are being made to close the broadband gap in rural parts of the country.
But CoBank’s lead Economist for Infrastructure, Jeff Johnston says AI developments, infrastructure in particular, has some catching up to do in the effort to close rural America’s broadband gap …
JOHNSTON … “We have a challenge. We have an opportunity - however you want to look at it - in front of us as it relates to generating enough electrons to be able to support the growth in AI and data centers and to maintain and hopefully increase our technology lead over China. So, power electrons, as we go forward, that is the new currency. That is the new currency.”
And, Johnston says maybe the biggest challenge we’re facing …
JOHNSTON … “If you look at some of the studies that have been done and the estimates around energy consumption, we are headed for a supply-demand imbalance in the energy complex because of AI in the not-too-distant future. I know the administration is very well aware of this when working with the industry and the data center companies on new technologies, breaking down some barriers, and trying to do everything they can just to generate enough electrons, but this is a challenge. This is a problem.
But, Johnston says, this is also an opportunity. A very big opportunity.
