A policy brief from Harvard's Belfer Center shows that U.S. data center electricity consumption could rise to 325–580 terawatt-hours by 2028, accounting for 6.7%–12.0% of national electricity use. The debate over who pays for grid upgrades is reshaping the siting, financing, and regulatory logic of AI infrastructure.
Observer has released its 2025 AI Power Index, listing 100 leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence. This article interprets the list from an industry perspective, analyzing the distribution of AI power, the interplay between capital and ideas, and how businesses and investors should understand this landscape.
In the first half of 2026, total US venture capital investment reached $412.7 billion, with AI companies receiving 86% of that funding. The market is undergoing a structural shift, but high concentration brings potential risks.