Give up, all is lost, all is lost.
this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2025
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Blessed be the Temu empire
Not only the U.S. grid is weak compared to China’s… Strategically China seems to be outpacing the U.S. on many fronts, being much more stringent and focused on long term goals than the chaotic U.S. at the moment. I really don’t like the idea of living in a world with China as the leading nation, but it increasingly seems like the most probable development in the mid to long run. And transition will likely not be smooth…
Archived Link and Generated Summary below:
Alt. Link: https://archive.ph/rD2R4
Generated Summary:
A 600-word bullet point summary focusing on statistics, comparing China and the US's energy infrastructure readiness for AI development.
- China views energy availability for AI development as a "solved problem," unlike the US where it's a major bottleneck.
- McKinsey projects a $6.7 trillion investment in new data center capacity globally (2025-2030) to meet AI's energy demands.
- US data center development is limited by power grid stress; some companies build their own power plants. Ohio households face at least a $15/month electricity bill increase due to data centers.
- Goldman Sachs highlights AI's power demand outpacing grid development cycles.
- China annually adds more electricity demand than Germany's total annual consumption. One Chinese province matches India's total electricity supply.
- China maintains an 80-100% reserve margin, meaning it has at least twice the needed capacity, allowing it to absorb AI data center demand.
- The US typically operates with a 15% reserve margin or less, leading to warnings about grid strain during peak demand.
- China's energy planning is coordinated through long-term, technocratic policy, anticipating demand. The US relies heavily on private investment with shorter-term return expectations (3-5 years), unsuitable for long-term power projects (decade-long build and payoff).
- China directs state funding to strategic sectors, accepting some project failures to ensure capacity when needed. The US lacks this public financing for long-term energy projects.
- China's pragmatic approach to renewables and coal use, focusing on efficiency and results, contrasts with the US's politically charged debates.
- Without significant changes in US energy infrastructure funding and development, China's lead will widen.