Khaberni - Elon Musk warns of a collapse in the global energy infrastructure within less than three years, due to the immense pressure the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence systems is putting on ground electricity networks.
This was stated in an extensive interview Musk had with the "Cheeky Paint" podcast hosted by John Collison, where he presented a frank assessment of the risks looming over technological infrastructure.
Musk said, "My prediction? In 30 to 36 months, we will lose our energy. Mark my words. You can't get any bigger than this here," explaining that the artificial intelligence's consumption of energy exceeds the current networks' capacity to adapt, which may lead to widespread power outages threatening the continuity of essential digital services.
In response to this threat, Musk revealed an unprecedented plan aimed at transferring a crucial part of computing capabilities to space.
The initiative includes launching a million small satellites into low orbit, equipped with central processing units that directly use solar energy, leveraging the consistency of solar radiation in outer space.
He explained, "The Sun is always present in space, so we can generate inexhaustible energy to power these systems, away from Earth's constraints."
However, the plan has sparked widespread controversy among experts. While some welcomed its proactive idea, others warned of potential risks, notably the congestion of low orbit with devices, and the increased likelihood of satellite collisions, which could generate space debris that complicates future access to space.
Reports by the European Space Agency (ESA) described this scenario as potentially "turning near space into a dangerous environment," calling for strict international standards to be established before implementing projects of this magnitude.
In related news, recent data from the International Energy Agency indicates that the electricity consumption of artificial intelligence data centers reached 480 terawatt hours globally in 2025, a 35% increase compared to the previous year, with predictions that this number will double by 2028 if the current growth continues without improvements in energy efficiency.
Experts like Dr. Leandra Chu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology believe that "Musk's warnings are not exaggerated, rather they reflect a real gap between the pace of technological innovation and the infrastructure's capacity to absorb it," urging for urgent investments in small nuclear energy and high-efficiency solar panels as alternative solutions.
It is noteworthy that the full episode of the "Cheeky Paint" podcast will be broadcast today, Monday, including an extended conversation with Musk about the technical details of the "space GPU units" project and its potential impact on the future of global computing.
These statements come at a time when countries like the United States and China are in a fierce race to build massive data centers, increasing the severity of environmental and logistical challenges linked to energy consumption.
The pressing question remains: Will the countdown set by Musk act as a catalyst for proactive global action, or will it be added to the list of warnings that are ignored until it is too late? With less than 30 months left until the deadline set by the world's richest man, preparations today become more urgent than ever.
