Meta had plans to construct an AI knowledge heart within the US that depends on nuclear energy — it even already knew the place it needed the power to be constructed. In accordance with the Monetary Instances, although, the corporate needed to scrap its plans, as a result of the a uncommon bee species was found on the land reserved for the challenge. Firm chief Mark Zuckerberg was reportedly prepared to shut a cope with an present nuclear energy plant operator that would offer emissions-free power to the plant. The Instances mentioned he instructed workers members at an all-hands final week that pushing by way of would not have been doable, as a result of the corporate would encounter quite a few regulatory challenges as a result of bees’ discovery.
Zuckerberg reportedly instructed his workers that Meta would’ve had the primary nuclear-powered AI if the deal had gone forward. It nonetheless may come true if the corporate may discover a means, however it has to maneuver rapidly as a result of its largest rivals are investing in nuclear power, as effectively. In September, Microsoft revealed that it intends to revive the Three Mile Island nuclear energy plant to offer power for its AI efforts. In the meantime, Google teamed up with startup Kairos Energy to construct seven small nuclear reactors within the US to energy its knowledge facilities beginning in 2030. After which there’s Amazon, which introduced three agreements with totally different firms to construct small modular reactors in mid-October.
The Instances did not say whether or not Meta is on the lookout for a brand new website — one that does not have uncommon bees dwelling in its neighborhood. One in every of its sources solely mentioned that Meta remains to be exploring varied offers for emissions-free power, together with nuclear, to energy its future AI knowledge facilities.