电网老旧分裂,就连稳定供电都做不到,美国AI产业还怎么赢中国?
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-12-23 00:36

Core Viewpoint - The competition between China and the US in the AI industry is heavily influenced by their respective power supply capabilities, with China leveraging its stable electricity grid to support AI development while US tech giants struggle with outdated infrastructure and high costs [1][3]. Group 1: Power Supply and AI Development - AI requires significant electricity, with training a model like ChatGPT consuming energy equivalent to 30,000 Tesla vehicles running 200,000 kilometers, or enough to power 40,000 households for a day [7]. - By 2030, global data centers' electricity consumption is expected to double, surpassing Japan's total electricity usage, making power supply a critical factor for AI survival [9][11]. - China's AI labs benefit from a stable power supply through high-voltage transmission lines, ensuring consistent electricity from renewable sources like hydropower, while the US faces challenges with its aging power grid [11][30]. Group 2: US Power Grid Challenges - The US power grid is plagued by aging infrastructure, with 70% of transmission lines and transformers over 25 years old, leading to inefficiencies and vulnerability to extreme weather [15][21]. - During the 2021 Texas winter storm, over 4 million users lost power, resulting in significant economic losses exceeding $100 billion, highlighting the grid's unreliability [18][21]. - The fragmented nature of the US power grid, divided into independent regional networks, limits its ability to respond effectively to crises, as seen in the Texas power outages [23][30]. Group 3: China's Power Grid Advantages - China's power grid operates as a unified system, allowing for efficient energy distribution across vast distances, which supports AI development in urban centers [30][35]. - The country has mastered high-voltage transmission technology, enabling low-loss electricity delivery over long distances, which is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources [32][35]. - China's electricity costs are significantly lower than those in the US, providing a competitive advantage for AI companies in terms of operational expenses [38][42]. Group 4: Future Implications - As AI technology advances, electricity demand will continue to rise, potentially widening the gap between China's and the US's power grid capabilities [44]. - China's robust power infrastructure is expected to sustain its AI industry's growth and foster related sectors, while the US risks falling behind if it cannot address its power grid issues [44].