Star-Telegram Op-Ed: For U.S. to beat China in AI race, Republicans must lead. First step: More energy

When Alan Turing first coined the term “artificial intelligence,” or AI, in his 1950 paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” the first full-scale nuclear generating station was years away from breaking ground, deregulated power markets were still decades down the road, and the People’s Republic of China was in its infancy.

AI, energy shocks and U.S.-China tensions are not new phenomena. But they have catapulted to center stage as Americans increasingly question their leaders’ ability to properly address these intertwined challenges. The coming months present a golden opportunity for Republicans to leverage their electoral mandate to bolster our energy security and fuel the jobs of the future.

Maintaining our position as a world leader in AI development and deployment — from discovering new medical breakthroughs to modeling and mitigating natural disasters — requires an abundant and secure supply of energy. Power utilities across the country have revised up expectations of future electricity demand and ensuing capital outlays needed to modernize our grid and keep pace with our competitors. Some estimates project capital investment requirements exceeding several trillion dollars.

The entire U.S. economy is facing a rapid surge in electricity demand, driven by a confluence of factors, including the revival of American manufacturing, the electrification of transport, heat and industry, and the growth of the digital economy. This load growth is occurring against a backdrop of transmission assets that are fast approaching the end of their useful lives. Updating the “world’s largest machine” will require a collaborative approach and a bold vision.

Read the rest here: Fort Worth Star-Telegram