Benzinga·2025-12-22 08:01Core Argument - The global AI race may be determined more by energy capacity than by semiconductor technology, as highlighted by Tesla's CEO Elon Musk and Futurum's CEO Daniel Newman [1]. Group 1: China's Energy Growth - China has significantly outpaced the U.S. in electricity generation growth over the past year, particularly in solar power, adding several times more solar-generated electricity than the U.S. [2] - Musk described China's solar expansion as "incredible," emphasizing the need for the U.S. to match this pace to remain competitive [2]. Group 2: U.S. Energy Policy Concerns - Newman pointed out that while U.S. companies like Nvidia are ahead in advanced AI chips, a weak energy policy could undermine this advantage [3]. - The U.S. has neglected power generation and grid expansion for decades, which could hinder the ability to support energy-hungry AI systems [4]. Group 3: Future Energy Demand - Energy is becoming a critical battleground in the global AI race, with Michael Burry noting that China's expanding power generation capacity provides it with a built-in advantage [5]. - Goldman Sachs forecasts a 175% increase in global electricity consumption from data centers, including AI workloads, by 2030, equivalent to adding one of the world's top 10 electricity-consuming nations [6]. - In the U.S., power demand is expected to grow by approximately 2.6% annually through 2030, driven by rapid data center growth [6].