The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating significant energy demands that existing power infrastructures struggle to meet. Training a single advanced AI model can consume more electricity than the annual usage of 120 U.S. homes. As global AI adoption continues to surge, projections indicate that energy demand from data centers could double by 2030. This situation raises urgent questions about how to sustainably power a new technological revolution.
Lado Okhotnikov, founder of the holistic biotech platform Holiverse, emphasizes the critical nature of these challenges. “The problem is becoming especially urgent now, as AI is advancing rapidly and its energy demands are growing just as fast,” he states. His work focuses on the integration of human biology and technology, framing the energy crisis as a systemic issue that requires immediate attention. Okhotnikov notes, “Even today, we must think about where we will source that energy without compromising people’s lives or existing industries.”
While some look to renewable energy sources as a solution, Okhotnikov acknowledges the limitations of current technologies. Although countries are increasingly transitioning to wind, solar, and geothermal energy, these sources are constrained by geography, weather, and the simple reality of nightfall. They provide a crucial bridge to a sustainable future but may not be sufficient for a civilization reliant on a continuously learning, global AI ecosystem.
The pressing question arises: what comes next? For visionaries like Okhotnikov and other experts in the field, the answer lies in the potential of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP). “Very soon, we will have to look to space—because the future, without question, belongs there,” he asserts.
Imagine vast solar arrays in geostationary orbit, continuously absorbing sunlight and converting it into energy that can be beamed wirelessly to Earth via safe, low-intensity microwaves or lasers. This concept is no longer confined to the realm of science fiction. Organizations such as the European Space Agency and NASA are conducting feasibility studies to explore the practicality of such systems. A 2025 analysis for the European energy grid suggests that space-based solar installations could provide a stable energy backbone that current intermittent renewables cannot offer.
“The solar power we can collect here on Earth is only a tiny fraction of what is available in space,” Okhotnikov notes. He believes that tapping into this vast resource presents immense potential for innovation and development. Holiverse is actively pursuing designs and collaborations aimed at integrating future AI infrastructures with energy harvested from space.
The journey to harness solar electricity in space is fraught with challenges. Issues such as international governance, orbital construction, transmission efficiency, and launch costs pose significant hurdles. Nevertheless, advancements in materials science and the development of reusable rocket technology are increasingly viewed as obstacles that can be overcome through engineering and collaborative diplomacy.
Holiverse aims to be at the forefront of this transformative transition. “We are developing technologies capable of powering the next era of AI,” Okhotnikov states. “It’s a demanding process that brings together some of the brightest minds in this field, and I believe that in the foreseeable future we will be ready to take tangible steps toward making this project a reality.”
The implications of successfully implementing SBSP could be profound. By freeing AI from the constraints of terrestrial energy limitations, research budgets would expand significantly. A sustainable energy network could support the extensive computational demands of fields such as material science, personalized medicine, and climate prediction. In this new paradigm, energy itself will play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI development.
From Holiverse to the growing community of specialists rethinking energy governance, there is a strong consensus: to genuinely advance intelligence, the focus must shift upwards, beyond the confines of our planet. Utilizing the sun’s limitless power might indeed be the key to unlocking the next major breakthrough in artificial intelligence.