Against the backdrop of the global artificial intelligence boom, Microsoft and BlackRock recently announced a partnership with Elon Musk to form a new AI infrastructure alliance called "AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP). The core goal of this collaboration is to jointly build a $30 billion data center and associated AI infrastructure, and Nvidia will also join the alliance as a technical consultant.
The alliance was originally initiated by BlackRock and its Global Infrastructure Partnership (GIP), Microsoft and UAE investment agency MGX. At the beginning of its establishment, the alliance planned to raise $30 billion in private equity capital and ultimately hoped to leverage up to $100 billion in potential investments. Today, the addition of xAI has injected new vitality into this program, especially in infrastructure investments, especially energy projects.
BlackRock CEO Fink mentioned in a statement that demand for investment in such long-term infrastructure projects by customers such as pensions and insurance companies continues to rise. Because of this, the alliance is also expected to attract more investors' attention.
The focus of this collaboration is to optimize energy supply, especially to support the growing demand for AI data centers. The alliance has entered into a partnership agreement with energy suppliers NextEra Energy Inc. and GE Vernova Inc. to accelerate the diversification of energy solutions in AI data centers. This is particularly important in the context of the current energy crisis.
It is worth noting that Microsoft has established a deep partnership with OpenAI and has invested about $13 billion in funding. However, in addition to its cooperation with OpenAI, Microsoft is also stepping up its development of autonomous AI models, showing its strong ambitions in this field. Musk was the co-founder of OpenAI, but his relationship with current CEO Artman is becoming increasingly tense, with the two sides confronting multiple issues.
As AI investment continues to heat up, global electricity demand faces huge challenges. It is estimated that by 2034, the energy consumption of data centers will exceed 1,580 terawatt hours, which is equivalent to the current annual electricity consumption in India. Therefore, this new alliance will not only drive technological advancement, but will also have a profound impact on energy supply and the environment.