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unpatched ai

Scrape the Web for Training Data

Do AI Companies Have the Right to Scrape the Web for Training Data? For the past two years, generative AI companies have faced lawsuits—some from high-profile authors and publishers—while simultaneously striking multi-million-dollar data licensing deals. Despite the legal battles, the political tide seems to be shifting in favor of AI firms. Both the European Union and the UK appear to be leaning toward an “opt-out” model, where web scraping is permitted unless content owners explicitly forbid it. But critical questions remain: How exactly does “opting out” work? And do creators and publishers truly have a fair chance to do so? Data as the New Oil The most valuable asset in AI isn’t GPUs or data centers—it’s the training data itself. Without the vast troves of text, images, videos, and artwork produced over decades (or even centuries), there would be no ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. Web scraping is nothing new. Search engines like Google have relied on crawlers for decades, indexing the web to deliver search results. But the rules of the game have changed. Old Conventions, New Conflicts Historically, website owners welcomed search engine crawlers to boost visibility while others (especially news publishers) saw them as competitors. The Robots Exclusion Standard (robots.txt) emerged as a gentleman’s agreement—a way for sites to signal which pages could be crawled. While robots.txt isn’t legally binding, reputable search engines like Google and Bing generally respect it. The arrangement was symbiotic: websites got traffic, and search engines got data. But AI crawlers operate differently. They don’t drive traffic—they consume content to generate competing products, often commercializing it via AI services. Will AI companies play fair? Nick Clegg, former UK deputy PM and current Meta executive, bluntly stated that requiring permission from artists would “kill” the AI industry. If unfettered data access is seen as existential, can we expect AI firms to respect opt-outs? Can Websites Really Block AI Crawlers? Theoretically, yes—by blocking AI user agents or monitoring suspicious traffic. But this is a game of whack-a-mole, requiring constant vigilance. And what about offline content? Books, research papers, and proprietary datasets aren’t protected by robots.txt. Some AI companies have allegedly bypassed ethical scraping altogether, sourcing data from shadowy corners of the internet—like torrent sites—as revealed in a recent lawsuit against Meta. The Transparency Problem Even if content owners could opt out, how would they know if their data was already used? Why resist transparency? Only two explanations make sense: Neither is a good look. Beyond Copyright: The Bigger Questions This debate isn’t just about copyright—it’s about: And what happens when Google replaces traditional search with AI summaries? Websites may face an impossible choice: Allow AI training or disappear from search results altogether. The Future of the Open Web If AI companies continue scraping indiscriminately, the open web could shrink further, with more content locked behind paywalls and logins. Ironically, the very ecosystem AI relies on may be destroyed by its own hunger for data. The question isn’t just whether AI firms have the right to scrape the web—but whether the web as we know it will survive their appetite. Footnotes Key Takeaways ✅ AI companies are winning the legal/political battle for web scraping rights.⚠️ Opt-out mechanisms (like robots.txt) may be ignored.🔍 Transparency is lacking—many AI firms won’t disclose training data sources.🌐 Indiscriminate scraping could kill the open web, pushing content behind paywalls. Would love to hear your thoughts—should AI companies have free rein over web data, or do content creators deserve more control? Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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Whoever cracks reliable, scalable atomic power first could gain an insurmountable edge in the AI arms race.

The Nuclear Power Revival

The Nuclear Power Revival: How Big Tech is Fueling AI with Small Modular Reactors From Meltdowns to Megawatts: Nuclear’s Second Act Following two catastrophic nuclear accidents—Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986)—public trust in atomic energy plummeted. But today, an unlikely force is driving its resurgence: artificial intelligence. As generative AI explodes in demand, tech giants face an unprecedented energy crisis. Data centers, already consuming 2-3% of U.S. electricity, could devour 9% by 2030 (Electric Power Research Institute). With aging power grids struggling to keep up, cloud providers are taking matters into their own hands—by turning to small modular reactors (SMRs). Why AI Needs Nuclear Power The Energy Crisis No One Saw Coming Enter Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) The global SMR market for data centers is projected to hit 8M by 2033, growing at 48.72% annually (Research and Markets). The Big Four Tech Players Going Nuclear 1. Microsoft: Reviving Three Mile Island 2. Google: Betting on Next-Gen SMRs 3. Amazon: Three-Pronged Nuclear Push 4. Oracle: Plans Under Wraps The Startups Building Tomorrow’s Nuclear Tech Company Backer/Notable Feature Innovation Oklo Sam Altman (OpenAI) Rural SMRs targeting 2027 launch TerraPower Bill Gates Sodium-cooled fast reactors NuScale First U.S.-approved SMR design Factory-built, modular light-water reactors Last Energy 80+ microreactors planned in Europe/Texas 20MW units for data centers Deep Atomic Swiss startup MK60 reactor with dedicated cooling power Valar Atomics “Gigasite” assembly lines On-site SMR production Newcleo Lead-cooled fast reactors Higher safety via liquid metal cooling Challenges Ahead The Bottom Line As AI’s hunger for power grows exponentially, Big Tech is bypassing traditional utilities to build its own nuclear future. While risks remain, SMRs offer a scalable, clean solution—potentially rewriting energy economics in the AI era. The race is on: Whoever cracks reliable, scalable atomic power first could gain an insurmountable edge in the AI arms race. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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Transformative Potential of AI in Healthcare

The Hidden Environmental Cost of Health AI

The Hidden Environmental Cost of Health AI: Why Sustainability Can’t Wait AI in Healthcare: A Double-Edged Sword AI is revolutionizing healthcare with:✅ Early disease detection (e.g., AI radiology tools)✅ Predictive analytics for personalized treatment✅ Automated admin tasks reducing clinician burnout Yet, its carbon footprint is staggering: Why Healthcare Must Act Now 3 Steps to a Greener Health AI Strategy 1. Adopt Energy-Efficient AI Models 2. Demand Transparency from Vendors 3. Implement an AI Sustainability Framework Factor Action Item Model Selection Opt for models with lower FLOPs (floating-point operations) Data Efficiency Use synthetic data where possible Hardware Deploy on carbon-neutral cloud providers Lifecycle Audit & retire unused AI workloads “We can’t sacrifice our planet for short-term AI gains. Healthcare must lead in sustainable innovation.”—Dr. Manijeh Berenji, UC Irvine The Bottom Line Health AI is indispensable—but so is preserving a livable planet. By adopting energy-conscious AI practices, healthcare can advance medicine without accelerating climate change. Next Steps: Sustainable AI starts with awareness. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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Whoever cracks reliable, scalable atomic power first could gain an insurmountable edge in the AI arms race.

Nuclear Energy’s Resurgence

Nuclear Energy’s Resurgence: Can It Power the AI Revolution? The Nuclear Renaissance Takes Shape As the world grapples with soaring energy demands from AI and electrification, nuclear power is experiencing an unexpected revival. The reopening of plants and new investments suggest a shifting energy landscape—but can supply keep pace with the explosive demand for clean, reliable power? A Long-Planned Comeback Aniket Shah, Jefferies’ Global Head of Sustainability and Transition Strategy, notes that the nuclear resurgence isn’t sudden. The U.S. has been laying the groundwork for years through strategic partnerships, recognizing nuclear’s critical role in the energy transition. Key Drivers of the Nuclear Boom: The Execution Challenge Despite momentum, Shah warns of hurdles: Why AI is Fueling Nuclear’s Second Act The Power Demand Shock Durgesh Chopra, Evercore ISI Managing Director, highlights AI and electrification as the twin engines of energy demand. Data centers alone could double U.S. electricity consumption growth by 2030, per McKinsey. Why Utilities Are Betting on Nuclear: A Golden Era for Utilities? After a decade of stagnant demand, utilities now face a historic opportunity: The Road Ahead: Can Nuclear Scale Fast Enough? Opportunities ✅ SMRs & Advanced Reactors: Faster to deploy than traditional plants.✅ Tech’s Deep Pockets: Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are bankrolling innovation.✅ Policy Momentum: The U.S. recently streamlined nuclear approvals. Risks ⚠️ Labor Gaps: Training programs must expand rapidly.⚠️ Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Rare earth metals and reactor components face shortages.⚠️ Public Perception: Overcoming nuclear’s stigma remains a hurdle. The Bottom Line Nuclear energy is no longer a relic of the past—it’s becoming the keystone of AI’s future. While challenges persist, the alignment of tech investment, policy support, and energy economics suggests atomic power is poised for a lasting comeback. For investors, utilities, and tech giants alike, the message is clear: The race to scale nuclear is on. Whoever cracks the code first will power the next era of innovation. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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Salesforce Instance Refresh Maintenance

Salesforce Instance Refresh Maintenance

Salesforce instance refresh maintenance is a regular process where Salesforce upgrades the underlying infrastructure of your specific instance (a cluster of servers) in their data centers. This process involves moving your instance to a new data center and potentially changing the instance’s name. Salesforce does this to provide customers with the latest hardware and ensure optimal performance.  Learn More: Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Marketing Cloud Transactional Emails Salesforce Marketing Cloud Transactional Emails are immediate, automated, non-promotional messages crucial to business operations and customer satisfaction, such as order Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more

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Salesforce’s AI Energy Score

Salesforce’s AI Energy Score

Salesforce’s AI Energy Score: Setting a New Standard for AI Sustainability Understanding AI’s Environmental Impact As AI adoption accelerates globally, concerns about its environmental footprint have grown. Due to AI’s reliance on power-intensive data centers, the technology consumes vast amounts of energy and water, raising sustainability challenges. To address this, Salesforce, in collaboration with Hugging Face, Cohere, and Carnegie Mellon University, has introduced the AI Energy Score—a pioneering tool designed to measure and compare AI models’ energy efficiency. The AI Energy Score Launch The AI Energy Score will debut at the AI Action Summit on February 10, 2025, where leaders from over 100 countries, along with private sector and civil society representatives, will convene to discuss AI’s role in sustainability. Recognized by the French Government and the Paris Peace Forum, this initiative marks a significant step toward transparent and accountable AI development. “We are at a critical moment where the rapid acceleration of both the climate crisis and AI innovation intersect,” says Boris Gamazaychikov, Head of AI Sustainability at Salesforce.“AI’s environmental impact has remained largely opaque, with little transparency around its energy consumption. The AI Energy Score provides a standardized framework to disclose and compare these impacts, removing a key blocker to making sustainable AI the norm.” What Is the AI Energy Score? Developed in partnership with Hugging Face, Cohere, and Carnegie Mellon University, the AI Energy Score aims to establish clear and standardized energy consumption metrics for AI models. “The AI Energy Score is a major milestone for sustainable AI,” says Dr. Sasha Luccioni, AI & Climate Lead at Hugging Face. “By creating a transparent rating system, we address a key blocker for reducing AI’s environmental impact. We’re excited to launch this initiative and drive industry-wide adoption.” Key features of the AI Energy Score include: ✅ Standardized energy ratings – A framework for evaluating AI models’ energy efficiency✅ Public leaderboard – A ranking of 200+ AI models across 10 common tasks (e.g., text and image generation)✅ Benchmarking portal – A platform for submitting and assessing AI models, both open and proprietary✅ Recognizable energy use label – A 1–5 star system for easy identification of energy-efficient models✅ Label generator – A tool for AI developers to create and share standardized energy labels The Impact of the AI Energy Score The introduction of this score is expected to have far-reaching implications for the AI industry: 🔹 Driving market preference – Transparency will push demand for more energy-efficient AI models🔹 Incentivizing sustainable development – Public disclosure will encourage AI developers to prioritize efficiency🔹 Empowering informed decisions – AI users and businesses can make better choices based on energy efficiency data Salesforce’s Commitment to Sustainable AI Salesforce is leading by example, becoming the first AI model developer to disclose energy efficiency data for its proprietary models under this framework. This aligns with the company’s broader sustainability goals and ethical AI approach. Agentforce: AI Efficiency at Scale Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, introduced in 2024, is designed to deploy autonomous AI agents across business functions while maintaining energy efficiency. “Agentforce is built with sustainability at its core, delivering high performance while minimizing environmental impact,” explains Boris Gamazaychikov.“Unlike DIY AI approaches that require energy-intensive model training for each customer, Agentforce is optimized out of the box, reducing costly and carbon-heavy training.” Organizations are already leveraging Agentforce for impact-driven efficiencies: ✅ Good360 uses Agentforce to allocate donated goods more efficiently, cutting waste and emissions while saving 1,000+ employee hours annually✅ Businesses can reduce operational costs by optimizing AI model energy consumption “Reducing AI energy use isn’t just good for the environment—it lowers costs, optimizes infrastructure, and improves long-term profitability,” says Suzanne DiBianca, EVP & Chief Impact Officer at Salesforce.“We’re proud to work with industry leaders to build a more transparent AI ecosystem.” Addressing the AI Energy Challenge With AI-driven data center power usage projected to double by 2026, the AI Energy Score is a timely solution to help organizations manage and reduce their AI-related environmental impact. “The AI Energy Score isn’t just an energy-use metric—it’s a strategic business advantage,” adds Boris Gamazaychikov. “By helping organizations assess and optimize AI model energy consumption, it supports lower costs, better infrastructure efficiency, and long-term profitability.” As AI continues to evolve, sustainability must be part of the equation. The AI Energy Score is a major step in ensuring that the AI industry moves toward a more responsible, energy-efficient future.: Setting a New Standard for AI Sustainability Understanding AI’s Environmental Impact As AI adoption accelerates globally, concerns about its environmental footprint have grown. Due to AI’s reliance on power-intensive data centers, the technology consumes vast amounts of energy and water, raising sustainability challenges. To address this, Salesforce, in collaboration with Hugging Face, Cohere, and Carnegie Mellon University, has introduced the AI Energy Score—a pioneering tool designed to measure and compare AI models’ energy efficiency. The AI Energy Score Launch The AI Energy Score will debut at the AI Action Summit on February 10, 2025, where leaders from over 100 countries, along with private sector and civil society representatives, will convene to discuss AI’s role in sustainability. Recognized by the French Government and the Paris Peace Forum, this initiative marks a significant step toward transparent and accountable AI development. “We are at a critical moment where the rapid acceleration of both the climate crisis and AI innovation intersect,” says Boris Gamazaychikov, Head of AI Sustainability at Salesforce.“AI’s environmental impact has remained largely opaque, with little transparency around its energy consumption. The AI Energy Score provides a standardized framework to disclose and compare these impacts, removing a key blocker to making sustainable AI the norm.” What Is the AI Energy Score? Developed in partnership with Hugging Face, Cohere, and Carnegie Mellon University, the AI Energy Score aims to establish clear and standardized energy consumption metrics for AI models. “The AI Energy Score is a major milestone for sustainable AI,” says Dr. Sasha Luccioni, AI & Climate Lead at Hugging Face. “By creating a transparent rating system, we address a key blocker for reducing AI’s

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Agentic AI is Here

On Premise Gen AI

In 2025, enterprises transitioning generative AI (GenAI) into production after years of experimentation are increasingly considering on-premises deployment as a cost-effective alternative to the cloud. Since OpenAI ignited the AI revolution in late 2022, organizations have tested large language models powering GenAI services on platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These experiments demonstrated GenAI’s potential to enhance business operations while exposing the substantial costs of cloud usage. To avoid difficult conversations with CFOs about escalating cloud expenses, CIOs are exploring on-premises AI as a financially viable solution. Advances in software from startups and packaged infrastructure from vendors such as HPE and Dell are making private data centers an attractive option for managing costs. A survey conducted by Menlo Ventures in late 2024 found that 47% of U.S. enterprises with at least 50 employees were developing GenAI solutions in-house. Similarly, Informa TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group reported a rise in enterprises considering on-premises and public cloud equally for new applications—from 37% in 2024 to 45% in 2025. This shift is reflected in hardware sales. HPE reported a 16% revenue increase in AI systems, reaching $1.5 billion in Q4 2024. During the same period, Dell recorded a record .6 billion in AI server orders, with its sales pipeline expanding by over 50% across various customer segments. “Customers are seeking diverse AI-capable server solutions,” noted David Schmidt, senior director of Dell’s PowerEdge server line. While heavily regulated industries have traditionally relied on on-premises systems to ensure data privacy and security, broader adoption is now driven by the need for cost control. Fortune 2000 companies are leading this trend, opting for private infrastructure over the cloud due to more predictable expenses. “It’s not unusual to see cloud bills exceeding 0,000 or even million per month,” said John Annand, an analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. Global manufacturing giant Jabil primarily uses AWS for GenAI development but emphasizes ongoing cost management. “Does moving to the cloud provide a cost advantage? Sometimes it doesn’t,” said CIO May Yap. Jabil employs a continuous cloud financial optimization process to maximize efficiency. On-Premises AI: Technology and Trends Enterprises now have alternatives to cloud infrastructure, including as-a-service solutions like Dell APEX and HPE GreenLake, which offer flexible pay-per-use pricing for AI servers, storage, and networking tailored for private data centers or colocation facilities. “The high cost of cloud drives organizations to seek more predictable expenses,” said Tiffany Osias, vice president of global colocation services at Equinix. Walmart exemplifies in-house AI development, creating tools like a document summarization app for its benefits help desk and an AI assistant for corporate employees. Startups are also enabling enterprises to build AI applications with turnkey solutions. “About 80% of GenAI requirements can now be addressed with push-button solutions from startups,” said Tim Tully, partner at Menlo Ventures. Companies like Ragie (RAG-as-a-service) and Lamatic.ai (GenAI platform-as-a-service) are driving this innovation. Others, like Squid AI, integrate custom AI agents with existing enterprise infrastructure. Open-source frameworks like LangChain further empower on-premises development, offering tools for creating chatbots, virtual assistants, and intelligent search systems. Its extension, LangGraph, adds functionality for building multi-agent workflows. As enterprises develop AI applications internally, consulting services will play a pivotal role. “Companies offering guidance on effective AI tool usage and aligning them with business outcomes will thrive,” Annand said. This evolution in AI deployment highlights the growing importance of balancing technological innovation with financial sustainability. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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AI Energy Solution

AI Energy Solution

Could the AI Energy Solution Make AI Unstoppable? The Rise of Brain-Based AI In 2002, Jason Padgett, a furniture salesman from Tacoma, Washington, experienced a life-altering transformation after a traumatic brain injury. Following a violent assault, Padgett began to perceive the world through intricate patterns of geometry and fractals, developing a profound, intuitive grasp of advanced mathematical concepts—despite no formal education in the subject. His extraordinary abilities, emerging from the brain’s adaptation to injury, revealed an essential truth: the human brain’s remarkable capacity for resilience and reorganization. This phenomenon underscores the brain’s reliance on inhibition, a critical mechanism that silences or separates neural processes to conserve energy, clarify signals, and enable complex cognition. Researcher Iain McGilchrist highlights that this ability to step back from immediate stimuli fosters reflection and thoughtful action. Yet this foundational trait—key to the brain’s efficiency and adaptability—is absent from today’s dominant AI models. Current AI systems, like Transformers powering tools such as ChatGPT, lack inhibition. These models rely on probabilistic predictions derived from massive datasets, resulting in inefficiencies and an inability to learn independently. However, the rise of brain-based AI seeks to emulate aspects of inhibition, creating systems that are not only more energy-efficient but also capable of learning from real-world, primary data without constant retraining. The AI Energy Problem Today’s AI landscape is dominated by Transformer models, known for their ability to process vast amounts of secondary data, such as scraped text, images, and videos. While these models have propelled significant advancements, their insatiable demand for computational power has exposed critical flaws. As energy costs rise and infrastructure investment balloons, the industry is beginning to reevaluate its reliance on Transformer models. This shift has sparked interest in brain-inspired AI, which promises sustainable solutions through decentralized, self-learning systems that mimic human cognitive efficiency. What Brain-Based AI Solves Brain-inspired models aim to address three fundamental challenges with current AI systems: The human brain’s ability to build cohesive perceptions from fragmented inputs—like stitching together a clear visual image from saccades and peripheral signals—serves as a blueprint for these models, demonstrating how advanced functionality can emerge from minimal energy expenditure. The Secret to Brain Efficiency: A Thousand Brains Jeff Hawkins, the creator of the Palm Pilot, has dedicated decades to understanding the brain’s neocortex and its potential for AI design. His Thousand Brains Theory of Intelligence posits that the neocortex operates through a universal algorithm, with approximately 150,000 cortical columns functioning as independent processors. These columns identify patterns, sequences, and spatial representations, collaborating to form a cohesive perception of the world. Hawkins’ brain-inspired approach challenges traditional AI paradigms by emphasizing predictive coding and distributed processing, reducing energy demands while enabling real-time learning. Unlike Transformers, which centralize control, brain-based AI uses localized decision-making, creating a more scalable and adaptive system. Is AI in a Bubble? Despite immense investment in AI, the market’s focus remains heavily skewed toward infrastructure rather than applications. NVIDIA’s data centers alone generate 5 billion in annualized revenue, while major AI applications collectively bring in just billion. This imbalance has led to concerns about an AI bubble, reminiscent of the early 2000s dot-com and telecom busts, where overinvestment in infrastructure outpaced actual demand. The sustainability of current AI investments hinges on the viability of new models like brain-based AI. If these systems gain widespread adoption within the next decade, today’s energy-intensive Transformer models may become obsolete, signaling a profound market correction. Controlling Brain-Based AI: A Philosophical Divide The rise of brain-based AI introduces not only technical challenges but also philosophical ones. Scholars like Joscha Bach argue for a reductionist approach, constructing intelligence through mathematical models that approximate complex phenomena. Others advocate for holistic designs, warning that purely rational systems may lack the broader perspective needed to navigate ethical and unpredictable scenarios. This philosophical debate mirrors the physical divide in the human brain: one hemisphere excels in reductionist analysis, while the other integrates holistic perspectives. As AI systems grow increasingly complex, the philosophical framework guiding their development will profoundly shape their behavior—and their impact on society. The future of AI lies in balancing efficiency, adaptability, and ethical design. Whether brain-based models succeed in replacing Transformers will depend not only on their technical advantages but also on our ability to guide their evolution responsibly. As AI inches closer to mimicking human intelligence, the stakes have never been higher. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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DHS Introduces AI Framework to Protect Critical Infrastructure

DHS Introduces AI Framework to Protect Critical Infrastructure

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled the Roles and Responsibilities Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure, a voluntary set of guidelines designed to ensure the safe and secure deployment of AI across the systems that power daily life. From energy grids to water systems, transportation, and communications, critical infrastructure increasingly relies on AI for enhanced efficiency and resilience. While AI offers transformative potential—such as detecting earthquakes, optimizing energy usage, and streamlining logistics—it also introduces new vulnerabilities. Framework Overview The framework, developed with input from cloud providers, AI developers, critical infrastructure operators, civil society, and public sector organizations, builds on DHS’s broader policies from 2023, which align with White House directives. It aims to provide a shared roadmap for balancing AI’s benefits with its risks. AI Vulnerabilities in Critical Infrastructure The DHS framework categorizes vulnerabilities into three key areas: The guidelines also address sector-specific vulnerabilities and offer strategies to ensure AI strengthens resilience while minimizing misuse risks. Industry and Government Support Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, lauded the framework as a “powerful tool” for fostering responsible AI development. “We look forward to working with DHS to promote shared and individual responsibilities in advancing trusted AI systems.” Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, emphasized the framework’s role in fostering collaboration among stakeholders while prioritizing trust and accountability. “Salesforce is committed to humans and AI working together to advance critical infrastructure industries in the U.S. We support this framework as a vital step toward shaping the future of AI in a safe and sustainable manner.” DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas highlighted the urgency of proactive action. “AI offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the strength and resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure, and we must seize it while minimizing its potential harms. The framework, if widely adopted, will help ensure the safety and security of critical services.” DHS Recommendations for Stakeholders A Call to Action DHS encourages widespread adoption of the framework to build safer, more resilient critical infrastructure. By prioritizing trust, transparency, and collaboration, this initiative aims to guide the responsible integration of AI into essential systems, ensuring they remain secure and effective as technology continues to evolve. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Marketing Cloud Transactional Emails Salesforce Marketing Cloud Transactional Emails are immediate, automated, non-promotional messages crucial to business operations and customer satisfaction, such as order Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more

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Generative ai energy consumption

Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI

Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI, but ROI Impact Remains Unclear The rising energy costs associated with generative AI aren’t always central in enterprise financial considerations, yet experts suggest IT leaders should take note. Building a business case for generative AI involves both obvious and hidden expenses. Licensing fees for large language models (LLMs) and SaaS subscriptions are visible expenses, but less apparent costs include data preparation, cloud infrastructure upgrades, and managing organizational change. Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI. One under-the-radar cost is the energy required by generative AI. Training LLMs demands vast computing power, and even routine AI tasks like answering user queries or generating images consume energy. These intensive processes require robust cooling systems in data centers, adding to energy use. While energy costs haven’t been a focus for GenAI adopters, growing awareness has prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) to predict a doubling of data center electricity consumption by 2026, attributing much of the increase to AI. Goldman Sachs echoed these concerns, projecting data center power consumption to more than double by 2030. For now, generative AI’s anticipated benefits outweigh energy cost concerns for most enterprises, with hyperscalers like Google bearing the brunt of these costs. Google recently reported a 13% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, citing AI as a major contributor and suggesting that reducing emissions might become more challenging with AI’s continued growth. Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI While not a barrier to adoption, energy costs play into generative AI’s long-term viability, noted Scott Likens, global AI engineering leader at PwC, emphasizing that “there’s energy being used — you don’t take it for granted.” Energy Costs and Enterprise Adoption Generative AI users might not see a line item for energy costs, yet these are embedded in fees. Ryan Gross of Caylent points out that the costs are mainly tied to model training and inferencing, with each model query, though individually minor, adding up over time. These expenses are often spread across the customer base, as companies pay for generative AI access through a licensing model. A PwC sustainability study showed that GenAI power costs, particularly from model training, are distributed among licensees. Token-based pricing for LLM usage also reflects inferencing costs, though these charges have decreased. Likens noted that the largest expenses still come from infrastructure and data management rather than energy. Potential Efficiency Gains Though energy isn’t a primary consideration, enterprises could reduce consumption indirectly through technological advancements. Newer, more cost-efficient models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini are 60% less expensive per token than prior versions, enabling organizations to deploy GenAI on a larger scale while keeping costs lower. Small, fine-tuned models can be used to address latency and lower energy consumption, part of a “multimodel” approach that can provide different accuracy and latency levels with varying energy demands. Agentic AI also offers opportunities for cost and energy savings. By breaking down tasks and routing them through specialized models, companies can minimize latency and reduce power usage. According to Likens, using agentic architecture could cut costs and consumption, particularly when tasks are routed to more efficient models. Rising Data Center Energy Needs While enterprises may feel shielded from direct energy costs, data centers bear the growing power demand. Cooling solutions are evolving, with liquid cooling systems becoming more prevalent for AI workloads. As data centers face the “AI growth cycle,” the demand for energy-efficient cooling solutions has fueled a resurgence in thermal management investment. Liquid cooling, being more efficient than air cooling, is gaining traction due to the power demands of AI and high-performance computing. IDTechEx projects that data center liquid cooling revenue could exceed $50 billion by 2035. Meanwhile, data centers are exploring nuclear power, with AWS, Google, and Microsoft among those considering nuclear energy as a sustainable solution to meet AI’s power demands. Future ROI Considerations While enterprises remain shielded from the full energy costs of generative AI, careful model selection and architectural choices could help curb consumption. PwC, for instance, factors in the “carbon impact” as part of its GenAI deployment strategy, recognizing that energy considerations are now a part of the generative AI value proposition. As organizations increasingly factor sustainability into their tech decisions, energy efficiency might soon play a larger role in generative AI ROI calculations. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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ai optimism

AI Optimism

There is definitely AI optimism in the air. But its not all sunshine. A recent survey reveals that the rapid expansion of AI by companies worldwide could pose challenges to corporate carbon emissions reduction efforts. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that AI-driven data center energy consumption could double by 2026. Major tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have recently cited the increased energy demands associated with AI growth in data centers as a significant hurdle to their decarbonization goals. The survey highlights concerns among sustainability professionals: nearly 40% fear that AI may negatively impact their organization’s sustainability efforts. Despite this, 65% believe their company needs to balance AI’s benefits with its environmental costs, and 81% consider reducing AI’s emissions footprint a priority. Optimism remains, with 58% of respondents viewing AI’s benefits as outweighing its risks for addressing the climate crisis, and 57% feeling positive about managing AI’s advantages alongside its sustainability impact. Overall, 55% of sustainability professionals believe that AI will have a net positive effect on global sustainability progress. The survey also reveals that 49% of respondents have explored AI for their sustainability programs. Of these, 20% have already implemented AI, while 29% are still experimenting with it. Key uses of AI reported include enhancing energy efficiency, modeling carbon emissions, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Among those using AI, nearly two-thirds (65%) say it has “transformed their sustainability programs.” However, challenges remain. The top issues identified include a lack of knowledge on AI applications (37%), budget constraints (34%), and security and privacy concerns (34%). To better achieve sustainability goals, 52% of respondents emphasize the need for improved knowledge and skills, followed by 45% who highlight the importance of training. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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The Growing Role of AI in Cloud Management

The Growing Role of AI in Cloud Management

AI technologies are redefining cloud management by automating IT systems, improving security, optimizing cloud costs, enhancing data management, and streamlining the provisioning of AI services across complex cloud ecosystems. With the surging demand for AI, its ability to address technological complexities makes a unified cloud management strategy indispensable for IT teams. Cloud and security platforms have steadily integrated AI and machine learning to support increasingly autonomous IT operations. The rapid rise of generative AI (GenAI) has further spotlighted these AI capabilities, prompting vendors to prioritize their development and implementation. Adnan Masood, Chief AI Architect at UST, highlights the transformative potential of AI-driven cloud management, emphasizing its ability to oversee vast data centers hosting millions of applications and services with minimal human input. “AI automates tasks such as provisioning, scaling, cost management, monitoring, and data migration,” Masood explains, showcasing its wide-ranging impact. From Reactive to Proactive Cloud Management Traditionally, CloudOps relied heavily on manual intervention and expertise. AI has shifted this paradigm, introducing automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent decision-making. This evolution enables enterprises to transition from reactive, manual management to proactive, self-optimizing cloud environments. Masood underscores that this shift allows cloud systems to self-manage and optimize with minimal human oversight. However, organizations must navigate challenges, including complex data integration, real-time processing limitations, and model accuracy concerns. Business hurdles like implementation costs, uncertain ROI, and maintaining the right balance between AI automation and human oversight also require careful evaluation. AI’s Transformation of Cloud Computing AI has reshaped cloud management into a more proactive and efficient process. Key applications include: “AI enhances efficiency, scalability, and flexibility for IT teams,” says Agustín Huerta, SVP of Digital Innovation at Globant. He views AI as a pivotal enabler of automation and optimization, helping businesses adapt to rapidly changing environments. AI also automates repetitive tasks such as provisioning, performance monitoring, and cost management. More importantly, it strengthens security across cloud infrastructure by detecting misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and malicious activities. Nick Kramer of SSA & Company highlights how AI-powered natural language interfaces simplify cloud management, transforming it from a technical challenge to a logical one. With conversational AI, business users can manage cloud operations more efficiently, accelerating problem resolution. AI-Enabled Cloud Management Tools Ryan Mallory, COO at Flexential, categorizes AI-powered cloud tools into: The Rise of Self-Healing Cloud Systems AI enables cloud systems to detect, resolve, and optimize issues with minimal human intervention. For instance, AI can identify system failures and trigger automatic remediation, such as restarting services or reallocating resources. Over time, machine learning enhances these systems’ accuracy and reliability. Key Applications of AI in Cloud Management AI’s widespread applications in cloud computing include: Benefits of AI in Cloud Management AI transforms cloud management by enabling autonomous systems capable of 24/7 monitoring, self-healing, and optimization. This boosts system reliability, reduces downtime, and provides businesses with deeper analytical insights. Chris Vogel from S-RM emphasizes that AI’s analytical capabilities go beyond automation, driving strategic business decisions and delivering measurable value. Challenges of AI in Cloud Management Despite its advantages, AI adoption in cloud management presents challenges, including: AI’s Impact on IT Departments AI’s growing influence on cloud management introduces new responsibilities for IT teams, including managing unauthorized AI systems, ensuring data security, and maintaining high-quality data for AI applications. IT departments must provide enterprise-grade AI solutions that are private, governed, and efficient while balancing the costs and benefits of AI integration. Future Trends in AI-Driven Cloud Management Experts anticipate that AI will revolutionize cloud management, much like cloud computing reshaped IT a decade ago. Prasad Sankaran from Cognizant predicts that organizations investing in AI for cloud management will unlock opportunities for faster innovation, streamlined operations, and reduced technical debt. As AI continues to evolve, cloud environments will become increasingly autonomous, driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation across industries. Businesses embracing AI-driven cloud management will be well-positioned to adapt to the complexities of tomorrow’s IT landscape. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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Where Will AI Take Us?

Where Will AI Take Us?

Author Jeremy Wagstaff wrote a very thought provoking article on the future of AI, and how much of it we could predict based on the past. This insight expands on that article. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn. These machines can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. Many people think of artificial intelligence in the vein of how they personally use it. Some people don’t even realize when they are using it. Artificial intelligence has long been a concept in human mythology and literature. Our imaginations have been grabbed by the thought of sentient machines constructed by humans, from Talos, the enormous bronze automaton (self-operating machine) that safeguarded the island of Crete in Greek mythology, to the spacecraft-controlling HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Artificial Intelligence comes in a variety of flavors, if you will. Artificial intelligence can be categorized in several ways, including by capability and functionality: You likely weren’t even aware of all of the above categorizations of artificial intelligence. Most of us still would sub set into generative ai, a subset of narrow AI, predictive ai, and reactive ai. Reflect on the AI journey through the Three C’s – Computation, Cognition, and Communication – as the guiding pillars for understanding the transformative potential of AI. Gain insights into how these concepts converge to shape the future of technology. Beyond a definition, what really is artificial intelligence, who makes it, who uses it, what does it do and how. Artificial Intelligence Companies – A Sampling AI and Its Challenges Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a novel and significant challenge to the fundamental ideas underpinning the modern state, affecting governance, social and mental health, the balance between capitalism and individual protection, and international cooperation and commerce. Addressing this amorphous technology, which lacks a clear definition yet pervades increasing facets of life, is complex and daunting. It is essential to recognize what should not be done, drawing lessons from past mistakes that may not be reversible this time. In the 1920s, the concept of a street was fluid. People viewed city streets as public spaces open to anyone not endangering or obstructing others. However, conflicts between ‘joy riders’ and ‘jay walkers’ began to emerge, with judges often siding with pedestrians in lawsuits. Motorist associations and the car industry lobbied to prioritize vehicles, leading to the construction of vehicle-only thoroughfares. The dominance of cars prevailed for a century, but recent efforts have sought to reverse this trend with ‘complete streets,’ bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and traffic calming measures. Technology, such as electric micro-mobility and improved VR/AR for street design, plays a role in this transformation. The guy digging out a road bed for chariots and Roman armies likely considered none of this. Addressing new technology is not easy to do, and it’s taken changes to our planet’s climate, a pandemic, and the deaths of tens of millions of people in traffic accidents (3.6 million in the U.S. since 1899). If we had better understood the implications of the first automobile technology, perhaps we could have made better decisions. Similarly, society should avoid repeating past mistakes with AI. The market has driven AI’s development, often prioritizing those who stand to profit over consumers. You know, capitalism. The rapid adoption and expansion of AI, driven by commercial and nationalist competition, have created significant distortions. Companies like Nvidia have soared in value due to AI chip sales, and governments are heavily investing in AI technology to gain competitive advantages. Listening to AI experts highlights the enormity of the commitment being made and reveals that these experts, despite their knowledge, may not be the best sources for AI guidance. The size and impact of AI are already redirecting massive resources and creating new challenges. For example, AI’s demand for energy, chips, memory, and talent is immense, and the future of AI-driven applications depends on the availability of computing resources. The rise in demand for AI has already led to significant industry changes. Data centers are transforming into ‘AI data centers,’ and the demand for specialized AI chips and memory is skyrocketing. The U.S. government is investing billions to boost its position in AI, and countries like China are rapidly advancing in AI expertise. China may be behind in physical assets, but it is moving fast on expertise, generating almost half of the world’s top AI researchers (Source: New York Times). The U.S. has just announced it will provide chip maker Intel with $20 billion in grants and loans to boost the country’s position in AI. Nvidia is now the third largest company in the world, entirely because its specialized chips account for more than 70 percent of AI chip sales. Memory-maker Micro has mostly run out of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) stocks because of the chips’ usage in AI—one customer paid $600 million up-front to lock in supply, according to a story by Stack. Back in January, the International Energy Agency forecast that data centers may more than double their electrical consumption by 2026 (Source: Sandra MacGregor, Data Center Knowledge). AI is sucking up all the payroll: Those tech workers who don’t have AI skills are finding fewer roles and lower salaries—or their jobs disappearing entirely to automation and AI (Source: Belle Lin at WSJ). Sam Altman of OpenAI sees a future where demand for AI-driven apps is limited only by the amount of computing available at a price the consumer is willing o pay. “Compute is going to be the currency of the future. I think it will be maybe the most precious commodity in the world, and I think we should be investing heavily to make a lot more compute.” Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO This AI buildup is reminiscent of past technological transformations, where powerful interests shaped outcomes, often at the expense of broader societal considerations. Consider early car manufacturers. They focused on a need for factories, components, and roads.

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ai and sustainability

AI and Sustainability

Climate Change: A Global Crisis Demanding Urgent Action Climate change is one of the most critical challenges of our time, accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Rising global temperatures, melting polar ice, surging sea levels, and intensifying extreme weather events are destabilizing ecosystems, endangering biodiversity, and jeopardizing human communities worldwide. The future of our planet and the well-being of generations to come depend on decisive action—reducing greenhouse gas emissions, shifting to renewable energy, and embracing sustainable practices. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a vital tool in this fight, offering innovative technological solutions to advance sustainability efforts. AI for a Sustainable Future Sustainability is about meeting society’s environmental, social, and economic needs without compromising future generations’ ability to do the same. With mounting pressure on Earth’s resources and growing recognition of the need for responsible practices, sustainability has never been more crucial. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for fostering sustainable progress. AI stands at the forefront of this movement, enabling smarter resource management, waste reduction, and more efficient systems—while also demanding careful consideration of its own environmental impact. Key Areas Where AI Drives Sustainability Beyond these areas, AI aids sustainability across industries—streamlining manufacturing processes, designing energy-efficient buildings, and advancing green technologies. The Hidden Cost: AI’s Carbon Footprint Despite its benefits, AI has a significant environmental downside. Data centers, which power AI systems, consume vast amounts of energy—accounting for roughly 1% of global electricity use—and this demand is rising. Much of this energy comes from non-renewable sources, contributing to carbon emissions. Additionally, hardware production involves resource-intensive processes, from mining rare metals to managing electronic waste. It is not totally unimaginable that the “tree huggers” and “nuclear power haters” are dusting off their signs to protest the surging power demands of AI. To maximize AI’s sustainability potential, we must address its environmental impact. This includes: By balancing AI’s advantages with its ecological costs, we can harness its power to build a greener future—without undermining the very goals it seeks to achieve. Like Related Posts Who is Salesforce? Who is Salesforce? Here is their story in their own words. From our inception, we’ve proudly embraced the identity of Read more Salesforce Unites Einstein Analytics with Financial CRM Salesforce has unveiled a comprehensive analytics solution tailored for wealth managers, home office professionals, and retail bankers, merging its Financial Read more AI-Driven Propensity Scores AI plays a crucial role in propensity score estimation as it can discern underlying patterns between treatments and confounding variables Read more Tectonic’s Successful Salesforce Track Record Salesforce Technology Services Integrator – Tectonic has successfully delivered Salesforce in a variety of industries including Public Sector, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Read more

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