The Real AI Gold Rush Has Started (And It’s Not What You Think)

US Data Center Boom00:00

United States has 5,426 data centers, more than every other major country combined. $40 billion worth of US data centers under construction, 400% increase since 2022. This is a modern-day gold rush. Dollar value of data centers being built in the US will soon exceed new office buildings for the first time ever. Three years ago, data centers were 17th the size of the office market; now they're about to take over. Speaker sold office portfolio before COVID, shifted to senior living facilities. Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, data centers under construction surged from $12 billion to $40 billion, three and a half times larger in barely 2 years.

Energy Projections for Data Centers01:31

By 2030, US data center electricity usage expected to reach 8.1% of all US power, up from 3.9% in 2023. Morgan Stanley predicts 36 gigawatt power shortfall over the next 3 years due to AI data centers. In 2023: 3.9%; 2024: 4.2%; projections show it doubling in 6 years. China has 449 data centers with power consumption nearly identical to US. China's per capita energy usage grown 350% since 2000, now matches European Union (EU declining, China rising). Power will become the most valuable commodity in the world. Speaker invests in Bitcoin because it's literally power; power and energy is the true currency.

AI Arms Race and Electricity Demand03:00

Governments entering AI arms race. Recommends book Chip War. Companies pouring billions into compute. System needs new sources of electricity. If demand not met, prices will rise. Since ChatGPT launched in late 2022, US electricity prices up 23%; since 2020 up 40%, outpacing inflation. Demand rising faster than supply.