Tech Giants Explore Nuclear for AI Power Needs

Meta's plans to build a nuclear-powered AI data center in the US were halted due to the discovery of a rare bee species on the proposed site, leading to regulatory and environmental challenges. CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed staff that the ecological importance of the land made construction unfeasible, though Meta remains interested in carbon-free energy solutions for its AI infrastructure. This setback highlights a broader trend among tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, who are also exploring nuclear power to meet the high energy demands of AI development. These companies are seeking innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions and sustain their AI operations, with Google and Amazon signing agreements for small modular reactors. While the use of nuclear power is being revisited due to AI's energy requirements, Meta's plans specifically are on hold as they look for alternative sites or solutions.