Crusoe
Coverage of Crusoe in the Nexus archive.
- Off-grid data centers aren't the panacea that some AI firms hoped
Off-grid data centers aimed at accelerating AI development face local opposition and reliability issues, with projects like Oracle's Project Jupiter in New Mexico and a Virginia facility encountering delays and environmental complaints. Critics argue these centers are less reliable and more costly than grid-connected alternatives, raising doubts about their viability for large-scale AI expansion.
- Allbirds is now Smartbirds, and its AI-focused CEO says people won't even remember the shoes'
Allbirds has rebranded as Smartbird and shifted from selling shoes to becoming an AI infrastructure provider. The company sold its footwear business, reduced its workforce, and appointed Nadia Carlsten as CEO to lead its new AI-focused direction, competing with companies like Amazon and CoreWeave.
- AI's power demands give carbon capture a new push
Tech companies like Google, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Meta are advancing carbon capture projects to meet climate goals amid AI's energy demands. The technology, long too expensive, may now gain traction due to partnerships with energy firms and federal subsidies.
- AI boom drives clash between grid power vs. energy "islands"
The AI boom is creating a debate over whether data centers should connect to the grid or operate as energy 'islands.' Chevron's planned natural gas plant for a Microsoft data center in Texas highlights the growing trend of on-site power, with projections suggesting 30-50% of data center capacity may shift to off-grid solutions. Industry experts argue both grid integration and islanding have trade-offs in cost, speed, and reliability.