The News
The AI boom requires an “all-of-the-above approach” to power and energy, Nvidia’s head of sustainability said.
Speaking at Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion summit on Wednesday, Josh Parker said that “nuclear is a really fantastic option to have on the table if we can do it safely and reliably,” and that renewable energy will also be critical for fueling power-hungry AI data centers in the long term.
The swift adoption of AI — and particularly generative AI — has put the environmental impact of the technology into sharp focus: As data centers and usage expand, the technology’s energy and water demands have skyrocketed.
Nvidia is investing billions to support data center buildout globally, and Parker acknowledged there has been an increase in emissions and a “supply constraint on energy” thanks to AI, at least in the near term.
“We need more energy to power AI, and sometimes the only energy available is natural gas,” he conceded.
But looking further ahead, he predicted that energy supply and demand will eventually stabilize thanks to cleaner power sources. Companies that are building massive servers are “looking everywhere they can for clean energy,” he said.
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Parker said he is confident that AI will eventually help bring down emissions as advancements in the technology continue, especially in areas like manufacturing, transportation, and infrastructure. Some studies have shown AI can improve renewable energy systems by helping to modernize grid management and by making businesses more efficient.
The View From
By Francine Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco
Across the African continent, a young and dynamic workforce is shaping how technology and human ingenuity come together. At Cisco, we believe the future of AI-powered development happens when empowered people can access, trust, learn, and adopt AI technology. Our latest research with Carnegie Mellon University Africa shows that the African continent is not just an early adopter of AI, but is poised to lead— if it invests strategically in its people.
This is a decisive moment to unlock the continent’s potential. With 75% of Africa’s population under 35 by 2030, investing in AI learning, skills and ethical governance is critical for economic growth, as well as equitable and lasting progress. Purposeful partnerships between the public and private sectors can accelerate this journey.
At Cisco, we’re committed to expanding access and fostering a culture of learning so the next generation of innovators can use, shape, and responsibly guide technology — helping to build a resilient and secure AI-powered world. When we put people at the center of everything we do, we unlock a future where everyone can participate and thrive in the AI economy, across the African continent and beyond.