Latest Interviews
Showing 1–5 of 5 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs33 min
The Outlook for Data Center Power Demand as AI Token Use Grows
Brian Singer, Carly Davenport, Allison Nathan, George Lee
Goldman Sachs forecasts a surge in U.S. power demand reaching a 3.5% CAGR through 2030, driven by a 170% rise in global data center consumption that will equal Japan's total electricity usage. This growth is propelled by hyperscaler spending hitting $2.1 trillion by 2029, though projects face critical bottlenecks from skilled labor shortages, interconnect queues, and over 300 local moratoria. Consequently, the sector is increasingly relying on 30 gigawatts of behind-the-meter natural gas generation as a bridge while navigating regulatory uncertainty and community opposition regarding grid stability and environmental impacts.
- Goldman Sachs21 min
AI Exchanges: Power Problems?
Brian Singer, Alison Nathan, George Lee
Goldman Sachs projects a 220% surge in global data center power demand by 2030 as hyperscalers commit over $300 billion to infrastructure, a trajectory comparable to adding the world's sixth-largest power consumer to the grid. This aggressive expansion faces severe bottlenecks in skilled labor and transmission supply, forcing a near-term reliance on natural gas simple-cycle generators while industry leaders navigate regulatory hurdles and "agentic" AI traffic growth. Despite the high capital intensity and a potential $40 per megawatt-hour premium for green energy, major technology firms maintain robust balance sheets to fund these transition costs while seeking to decouple their power expenses from consumer utility rates.
- Goldman Sachs22 min
AI Exchanges: How tech giants are navigating the AI landscape
Eric Sheridan, Allison Nathan, George Lee
Major technology giants are sustaining record capital expenditures through 2025 to solidify AI infrastructure dominance, with Goldman Sachs projecting this peak intensity to slow in 2026 despite tariff-related cost increases. Executives from Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon characterize the sector as being in the early innings of a third computing shift, prioritizing defensive positioning and infrastructure monetization over immediate application-layer profitability. Although investor sentiment remains bifurcated by macroeconomic risks, current valuations reflect a strategic reliance on these incumbents' unprecedented balance sheet scale to navigate the transition from raw training to commercial deployment.
- Goldman Sachs18 min
Avi Loeb, Professor and Author
Physicist Avi Loeb argues that anomalous data regarding the interstellar object Oumuamua and recent Pentagon-reported UAPs warrants rigorous investigation despite mainstream skepticism favoring conventional natural explanations. He critiques the dismissal of unexplained phenomena by prominent scientists, asserting that prejudice hinders scientific progress and calling for the creation of open datasets to facilitate transparent analysis. Complementing this advocacy for inquiry, Loeb co-chairs the Breakthrough Starshot initiative, a project designed to propel gram-scale light-sail spacecraft to Proxima Centauri at 20% the speed of light within two decades.
- Milken Institute56 min
Purchase with Purpose: How Brands Are Using 'Social Good' to Win Consumer Loyalty
Mike Coupe, Nicholas Reed, Andrea Slater, Paul van Zyl, Simon Woodroffe, Hugh Cameron, Natalie Deacon, Nick Reed, David Lansman, Michelle, George Lee
Industry leaders from Avon, Sainsbury's, and Mayette convened to discuss the strategic shift toward purpose-driven business models that integrate social impact with commercial performance. Speakers highlighted case studies demonstrating that aligning brand missions with societal needs drives employee retention, consumer loyalty, and financial growth while necessitating decentralized decision-making and rigorous supply chain transparency. The consensus forecast predicts that traditional corporate social responsibility will become obsolete as "entrepreneurial citizenship" and dual reporting of financial and social profit establish the new baseline for global commerce.