AI Summit: US Energy Secretary Highlights AI's Role in Science, Energy and Security

09/10/2024

AI can help solve some of the world's biggest challenges - whether climate change, cancer or national security - U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm emphasized today during her remarks at the AI for Science, Energy and Security session at the NVIDIA AI Summit, in Washington, D.C.

Granholm went on to highlight the pivotal role AI is playing in tackling major national challenges, from energy innovation to bolstering national security.

We need to use AI for both offense and defense - offense to solve these big problems and defense to make sure the bad guys are not using AI for nefarious purposes, she said.

Granholm, who calls the Department of Energy America's Solutions Department, highlighted the agency's focus on solving the world's biggest problems.

Yes, climate change, obviously, but a whole slew of other problems, too quantum computing and all sorts of next-generation technologies, she said, pointing out that AI is a driving force behind many of these advances.

AI can really help to solve some of those huge problems - whether climate change, cancer or national security, she said. The possibilities of AI for good are awesome, awesome.

Following Granholm's 15-minute address, a panel of experts from government, academia and industry took the stage to further discuss how AI accelerates advancements in scientific discovery, national security and energy innovation.

AI is going to be transformative to our mission space. We're going to see these big step changes in capabilities, said Helena Fu, director of the Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies at the Department of Energy, underscoring AI's potential in safeguarding critical infrastructure and addressing cyber threats.

During her remarks, Granholm also stressed that AI's increasing energy demands must be met responsibly.

We are going to see about a 15% increase in power demand on our electric grid as a result of the data centers that we want to be located in the United States, she explained.

However, the DOE is taking steps to meet this demand with clean energy.

This year, in 2024, the United States will have added 30 Hoover Dams' worth of clean power to our electric grid, Granholm announced, emphasizing that the clean energy revolution is well underway.

AI's Impact on Scientific Discovery and National Security The discussion then shifted to how AI is revolutionizing scientific research and national security.

Tanya Das, director of the Energy Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, pointed out that AI can accelerate every stage of the innovation pipeline in the energy sector starting from scientific discovery at the very beginning going through to deployment and permitting.

Das also highlighted the growing interest in Congress to support AI innovations, adding, Congress is paying attention to this issue, and, I think, very motivated to take action on updating what the national vision is for artificial intelligence.

Fu reiterated the department's comprehensive approach, stating, We cross from open science through national security, and we do this at scale. Whether they be around energy security, resilience, climate change or the national security challenges that we're seeing every day emerging.

She also touched on the DOE's future goals: Our scientific systems will need access to AI systems, Fu said, emphasizing the need to bridge both scientific reasoning and the new kinds of models we'll need to develop for AI.

Collaboration Across Sectors: Government, Academia and Industry Karthik Duraisamy, director of the Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering at the University of Michigan, highlighted the power of collaboration in advancing scientific research through AI.

Think about the scientific endeavor as 5% creativity and innovation and 95% intense labor. AI amplifies that 5% by a bit, and then significantly accelerates the 95% part, Duraisamy explained. That is going to completely transform science.

Duraisamy further elaborated on the role AI could play as a persistent collaborator, envisioning a future where AI can work alongside scientists over weeks, months and years, generating new ideas and following through on complex projects.

Instead of replacing graduate students, I think graduate students can be smarter than the professors on day one, he said, emphasizing the potential for AI to support long-term research and innovation.

Learn more about how this week's AI Summit highlights how AI is shaping the future across industries and how NVIDIA's solutions are laying the groundwork for continued innovation.

LINK:	https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/ai-summit-us-energy-secretary/...
	See more stories from nvidia

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026