A technology executive has warned that America’s ageing and constrained power grid, rather than China itself, could be the main obstacle to US leadership in artificial intelligence. The argument is that AI development depends on energy-hungry data centres, so inadequate electricity generation and transmission could limit US capacity to build and deploy the technology.

The warning comes amid intensifying competition between the US and China over AI, with reliable power increasingly treated as a strategic resource. The article also notes public concern over new data centres, while supporters argue that clear communication about their energy and water use is needed to maintain local support and US competitiveness.