🔋 UK Needs More Nuclear to Power AI Boom, Says Amazon AWS Chief

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🗞 Quick Tech News

Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS)—the world's largest cloud computing provider—warns the UK must scale up nuclear energy to meet the growing power demands of AI-driven data centres.

AWS plans to invest £8 billion in UK data centres over the next four years. These centres, critical for AI, streaming, and cloud computing, consume as much energy as a small town. Garman sees nuclear power as a “great solution” for providing zero-carbon, 24/7 energy.

“The world is going to have to build new technologies. I believe nuclear is a big part of that,” Garman said in an interview with the BBC.

With 500+ UK data centres already using 2.5% of the nation's electricity—expected to rise to 6% by 2030—the pressure is on. In Ireland, data centres are projected to use 30% of the national grid by the same year.

French energy giant EDF is building the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant and may start a second at Sizewell. Meanwhile, AWS is exploring small modular reactors (SMRs) in the US and could collaborate with Rolls Royce, which is developing UK-based SMR tech.

However, experts caution the rollout will take years and grid delays remain a major bottleneck.

💬 Jess Ralston, Energy Analyst:

"Nuclear could help, but SMRs are still unproven, and traditional nuclear is slow and costly."

🧠 AI Regulation? Proceed with Caution, Says AWS

Garman emphasized that AI adoption is skyrocketing, with a new business going live with AI every minute. While he acknowledges concerns, he advises against hasty global regulation.

“The tech is evolving faster than regulators can understand it,” he warned, fearing regulation may backfire.

Still, he stressed the importance of guardrails and ethical frameworks to ensure AI benefits society.

🟡 Quick Take:

🏗️ AWS investing £8B in UK AI infrastructure

⚡ Nuclear seen as key to powering AI's future

🧠 AWS urges careful, informed AI regulation