For years, the AI story has revolved around chips. GPUs, model launches, and supply shortages set the pace of the conversation. But another constraint has been tightening in the background. As AI systems scale, electricity is becoming the harder problem. Not just how much is generated, but whether grids can deliver it where data centers actually sit. That’s why companies like Oracle and Google are no longer waiting for utilities. They’re signing nuclear deals and exploring small modular reactors to secure power directly.
This episode looks at what that shift reveals about two very different power systems. In the US, a fragmented grid and slow transmission buildout make power the new bottleneck. In China, decades of coordinated planning and ultra-high-voltage transmission created a system built to move energy at scale. The infrastructure race beneath the AI boom is now impossible to ignore.
Hosts
Aaron Zhou, investor, co-host, co-editor of Baiguan.news
Diane Ding, co-host and co-founder of ShengFM
Disclaimer: The information in this episode is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. All commentary reflects the personal views of the guests, based on publicly available information and first-hand operational experience.
