Electricity shortages have become a major issue for many economies, including Russia, impacting the country’s AI ambitions. The high energy consumption of activities such as crypto mining and AI data centers has put a strain on power resources and water supply for cooling servers. This has led to challenges in sustaining power needs, causing political, social, and economic problems for many countries.
Despite facing power shortages, Russia has been making efforts to push forward its AI initiatives. Hosting events related to BRICS, Russia has been focusing on the creative industry, particularly in entertainment. Moscow’s Mayor Sergey Sobyanin highlighted the growth of the city’s creative industries by 35% over the past two years, attributing it to AI advancements.
However, Russia’s energy crisis poses a hindrance to its AI ambitions. The country’s electricity consumption for AI reached 2.5 GW in 2024 and is projected to grow to 10 GW in the future. With a slow growth rate of 2-3 GW per year in the national grid, Russia is struggling to keep up with the increasing demand. The ban on cryptocurrency mining in energy-stressed regions is a step towards addressing the energy supply issues in the country.
Russia is not the only country facing power deficits. South Africa experienced rolling blackouts in 2023, which have somewhat subsided in 2024 with proposed tariff increases. Iran has also enforced rolling blackouts due to fuel shortages, impacting citizens during harsh winters. Despite Russia’s resilience during the war with Ukraine, the upcoming winter poses challenges for power supply and its implications on AI development.
As part of the BRICS group, Russia aims to challenge Western dominance in technologies and infrastructure. The group is exploring ways to establish an “anticolonial AI and digital cooperation agenda” to potentially bypass Western nations. However, Russia’s energy challenges have hindered the progress in this area.
In conclusion, the power shortages in Russia and other countries are posing obstacles to AI development and technological advancements. It is crucial for nations to address energy infrastructure issues to support the growth of AI and digital industries.