Tech giants are increasingly eyeing nuclear reactors to power their energy-hungry data centers. Amazon and Microsoft each inked major deals this year with nuclear power plants in the US. And both Microsoft and Google have shown interest in next-generation small modular reactors that are still in development.
New AI data centers need a lot of electricity, which has taken companies further away from their climate goals as their carbon emissions grow. Nuclear reactors could potentially solve both of those problems. As a result, Big Tech is breathing new life into America’s aging fleet of nuclear reactors while also throwing its weight behind emerging nuclear technologies that have yet to prove themselves.
“Certainly, the prospects for this industry are brighter today than they were five and 10 years ago,” says Mark Morey, senior adviser for electricity analysis at the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.
“Certainly, the prospects for this industry are brighter today”
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Much of America’s aging nuclear fleet came online in the 1970s and 1980s. But the industry has faced pushback following high-profile accidents like Three Mile Island and the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Nuclear power plants are also expensive to build and generally less flexible than gas plants that now make up the biggest chunk of the US electricity mix. Gas-fired power plants can more quickly ramp up and down with the ebb and flow of electricity demand.
Nuclear power plants typically provide steady “baseload” power. And that makes it an attractive power source for data centers. Unlike manufacturing or other industries that operate during daytime business hours, data centers run around the clock.
“When people are sleeping and offices are shut and we’re not using as much [electricity], what matches nuclear energy very nicely with data centers is that they pretty much need power 24/7,” Morey says.
That consistency also sets nuclear apart from wind and solar power that wane with the weather or time of day. Over the past five years or so, many tech companies have accelerated climate goals, pledging to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions.
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The added energy demand from new AI tools, however, has put those goals further out of reach in some cases. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all seen their greenhouse gas emissions climb in recent years. Getting electricity from nuclear reactors is one way companies can try to bring those carbon emissions down.
A feat that’s never been done before in the US
Microsoft signed an agreement to purchase power from shuttered Three Mile Island in September. “This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative,” Microsoft VP of energy Bobby Hollis said in a press release at the time.
The plan is to revive the plant by 2028, a feat that’s never been done before in the US. The plant “was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics” in 2019, according to Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of the company, Constellation, that owns the plant. But the outlook for nuclear energy now is rosier than it has been for years as companies look for carbon pollution-free sources of electricity.
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In March, Amazon Web Services purchased a data center campus powered by the adjacent Susquehanna Nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania. That $650 million deal secures electricity from the sixth largest nuclear facility in the US (out of 54 sites today).
Google is considering procuring nuclear energy for its data centers as part of its sustainability plans. “Obviously, the trajectory of AI investments has added to the scale of the task needed,” CEO Sundar Pichai said in an interview with Nikkei this week. “We are now looking at additional investments, be it solar, and evaluating technologies like small modular nuclear reactors, etc.”
He’s referring to next-generation reactors that are still in development and not expected to be ready to connect to the power grid until the 2030s at the earliest. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certified a design for an advanced small modular reactor for the first time last year. These advanced reactors are roughly one-tenth to one-quarter the size of their older predecessors; their size and modular design are supposed to make them easier and cheaper to build. They might also be more flexible than larger nuclear plants when it comes to adjusting how much electricity they produce to match changes in demand.
Bill Gates, for one, is all in on nuclear energy. He’s the founder and chair of TerraPower, a company developing small modular reactors. Last year, Microsoft put out a job listing for a principal program manager to lead the company’s nuclear energy strategy that would include small modular reactors.
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Bill Gates, for one, is all in on nuclear energy
“I’m a big believer that nuclear energy can help us solve the climate problem, which is very, very important,” Gates said in an interview with The Verge last month.
This week, the Department of Energy released a new report projecting that US nuclear capacity could triple by 2050. After flatlining for years, electricity demand is expected to rise in the US thanks to EVs, new data centers, crypto mining, and manufacturing facilities. That growing demand is changing the outlook for nuclear energy, according to the report. Just a couple years ago, utilities were shutting down nuclear reactors. Now, they’re extending reactors’ lifetimes by up to 80 years and planning to restart ones that have shuttered, it says.
“It is reasonable to think that the tech companies could catalyze a new wave of investment in nuclear, in the US and around the world. There has been plenty of talk about the idea in the industry,” Ed Crooks, Wood Mackenzie senior vice president, thought leadership executive for the Americas wrote in a blog post this week.
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This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s all smooth sailing ahead for nuclear energy in the US. New reactor designs and plans to reopen shuttered nuclear power plants are still subject to regulatory approval. Initiatives to build both old-school power plants and new designs have faced soaring costs and delays. Amazon already faces opposition to its nuclear energy plans in Pennsylvania over concerns that it could wind up driving up electricity costs for other consumers. And the nuclear energy industry still faces pushback over the impact of uranium mining on nearby communities and concerns about where to store radioactive waste.
“It’s an interesting time, challenging in many ways,” Morey says. “We’ll see what happens.”
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Strands expert
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Your Strands expert
Marc McLaren
NYT Strands today (game #217) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Got any bleu cheese?
NYT Strands today (game #217) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
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LATE
GLADE
BLADE
NICK
CHICK
TOAST
NYT Strands today (game #217) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Food in rows
NYT Strands today (game #217) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First: top, fourth column
Last: bottom, fifth column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #217) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #217, are…
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BACON
CHICKEN
TOMATO
VINAIGRETTE
GREENS
EGGS
SPANGRAM: COBBSALAD
My rating: Moderate
My score: Perfect
I presume there might be a split between people in the US and those in the rest of the world here. Or maybe it’s only me that had not really heard of a COBBSALAD and therefore struggled to solve this one. I was also very confused by the theme clue of ‘Got any bleu cheese?’, which made me think it was something French – because otherwise why is it spelled ‘bleu’ and not ‘blue’. So the whole thing was a bit baffling.
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I solved it in the end, but it was really just a case of trial and error. I spotted BACON early on, and CHICKEN too, so I realized it was a food-themed puzzle. The others took me a while to find, and getting the spangram was entirely based on there being nothing else it could be by the time that I got it. Not the most satisfying game for me – though if you know and like Cobb Salad (which to me sounds disgusting) then maybe you’ll have been fine with it. Ho hum.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday 5 October, game #216)
SHAM
FAKE
QUACK
PHONY
HOAK
CHARLATAN
HUMBUG
SPANGRAM: THATSUNREAL
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
The Echo Frames charing base takes a little getting used to.Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
One look at our list of Amazon Echo deals is likely enough to inform you that there is no shortage of Alexa-powered smart speakers and touchscreen displays to choose from. But the fun doesn’t stop when you leave the home! Thanks to Amazon’s dedication to all things tech, you’ll be able to pick up a pair of Amazon Echo Frames for improved eyesight and a bevy of other great features.
As a matter of fact, when you order the Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen) through Amazon, you’ll knock $100 off these $300 glasses, but only for a limited time.
This iteration of the Echo Frames uses blue light filtering to reduce how much strain your pupils experience when viewing phone, tablet, TV, and laptop screens. These lenses also contain an anti-glare seal for keeping ambient light at bay.
One of the premiere features of the Echo Frames (3rd Gen) is that they’re equipped with an open-ear audio system. Sound is directed to your ears via the Frames, and noise-canceling tech kicks in during phone calls to ensure the person you’re talking to hears you loud and clear. Speaking of which, you can use the Frames to make calls, and even for listening to music and podcasts.
Available in a number of fantastic styles, you’ll be able to order these glasses with several different lens types, too. The latest generation of this device includes revamped temple button controls (as opposed to the touchpad on older models), Bluetooth Multipoint, and expanded battery life. Oh, and it also comes with a nifty wireless charger!
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It’s hard to say how long this markdown is going to last, but Amazon deals like this one may not stick around for long. Not to mention, we’re right in the throes of Amazon’s October Big Deal Day pre-savings, which means the Echo Frames could potentially sell out. That being said, now could be the best time to save $100 on the Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen).
And if you’re a big fan of wearable tech, you should take a gander at the best smartwatch deals we’ve been keeping tabs on, too!
This open-frame wall-mount server rack provides 12U of storage, allowing you to save space and stay organized. The equipment rack can hold up to 198 lb. (90 kg).
Google recently made Gemini Live available to its free users in a pretty surprising move. This makes Gemini much more humanlike, and it truly shows what the company’s AI can do. However, an AI is only useful if it can understand you. Google just announced that Gemini Live is available in more languages.
Using Gemini Live is pretty easy. If you have it, all you have to do is either go to the Gemini app or summon Gemini using the gesture. At the bottom right of the screen, you’ll see a little audio icon. When you tap on it, you’ll be able to start using it. If it’s your first time, you’ll be able to choose the voice that you hear when it responds.
When you get responses from Gemini Live, they’ll be more fleshed-out and human just like you’re talking to another person. The more notable thing about Gemini Live is that you can interrupt the response. These things make it feel like you’re having a conversation with a friend rather than an AI model.
Gemini Live is available in more languages
There are a ton of languages in the world, so it takes time for many of the AI tools to make it to everyone. Gemini Live was first only available in English, but it’s time for other people to join in on the fun. Google just announced that Gemini Live is available in an impressive 40 languages.
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The list includes: English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), Deutsch (Belgien), Deutsch (Deutschland), Deutsch (Schweiz), Deutsch (Österreich), English (Australia), English (India), English (United Kingdom), English (United States), español (Argentina), español (Chile), español (Colombia), español (Estados Unidos), español (México), español (Perú), français (Belgique), français (France), français (Suisse), português (Brasil), and हिन्दी (भारत).
You can choose up to two languages that you’ll speak in. This means that you’ll just talk in that language, and Gemini will speak to you accordingly. This list of languages is: English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Latin America). If you don’t see the option to use Gemini Live, you’ll just need to wait a few days.
Amazon Prime Day is right around the corner, so the deals are already coming in hot. For instance, the Oura Ring is up to $100 off. The discount depends on which design you go for. The Stealth Horizon design is $350 in all sizes, while many standard colors are $300. The gold option, however, jumps up to $450. The prices also fluctuate depending on if you choose the rounded Horizon design or the more blocky Heritage design.
OURA
For the uninitiated, the Oura Ring is a smart wearable that tracks activity, sleep and more. The main benefit of choosing a smart ring over another type of fitness tracker is portability. It’s a lightweight ring, so after a few days you forget it’s even on. We called the Oura Ring the “perfect wearable for people who don’t like wearables” in our official review. It even made our list of the best sleep apps and gadgets.
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The device monitors over 20 biometric signals and is particularly precise when reading a pulse. The Oura Ring is also compatible with most of the most popular fitness-tracking apps, like Apple Health, Strava and Google Health Connect. Many of the designs are quite fetching and allow the device to easily pass as a regular non-techy ring.
On the downside, a bunch of the ring’s features are locked behind a subscription paywall. You get a month free with the initial purchase, but after that it’ll cost $6 per month. It’s also worth noting that this deal is for the third-gen Oura Ring. The fourth-gen device officially releases on October 15 and it’s smaller, with more tracking capabilities.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
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