As companies race to build the next generation of AI, data centers have become the focus of heated debates over electricity demand, water use, and economic impact. But how much of what we’re hearing is guesswork, and what still needs to be understood?
Join the Mack Institute for Innovation Management for a webinar that separates fact from fiction about the infrastructure powering the AI revolution. Bringing together experts from Wharton, Penn Engineering, and the clean technology industry, we’ll explore the questions making headlines across the country:
- Are data centers driving up electricity costs?
- How significant are their environmental impacts?
- Can emerging technologies reduce energy and water consumption?
- And what will the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure mean for businesses, policymakers, and consumers?
Whether you’re curious about the future of AI, concerned about its environmental footprint, or interested in the economic forces reshaping the technology landscape, this discussion will provide an accessible, evidence-based look at one of today’s most prominent debates.
Featuring Benjamin C. Lee (Penn Engineering), Serguei Netessine (Wharton), Govi Rao (Phase Change Solutions) and Ali Zaidi (Penn Engineering)
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About the Speakers
Benjamin C. Lee is a Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering and Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is the founding director of the Penn Center for Sustainable AI Systems, and a visiting researcher with Google’s Global Infrastructure Group. His research explores how advances in computer architecture can make AI infrastructure more energy efficient, sustainable, and resilient.
Serguei Netessine is a Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School, where his research explores business model innovation, operational excellence, and the energy transition. His work examines how emerging technologies and energy systems reshape industries, helping businesses and policymakers navigate the operational and economic challenges of large-scale infrastructure investments.
Govi Rao is CEO of Phase Change Solutions, a smart materials company developing technologies that improve the energy efficiency and cooling of data centers and other critical infrastructure. With more than 25 years of leadership in clean technology and sustainable innovation, he has helped bring new solutions to market across the energy, building materials, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Ali Zaidi (Moderator) is a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania whose teaching and research focuses on innovation and investment in energy, materials, and AI. In government, he has served under two U.S. Presidents and at the highest levels of state government. Most recently, Professor Zaidi worked in the West Wing as the U.S. National Climate Advisor and Head of the White House Climate Policy Office.