Zoho CEO Urges India: Prioritize Sustainable AI Amidst Global Data Center Surge

• Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu advocates for India to adopt energy-efficient and sustainable AI practices, contrasting with the energy-intensive approach seen in Western nations.
• Vembu criticizes the global tech industry for neglecting sustainability in the AI race, calling previous climate commitments "virtue-signalling."
• The US faces escalating electricity prices due to rapid AI data center expansion, prompting former President Donald Trump to call for responsible energy consumption from tech companies.
• India's data center load is projected to surge from 1.2 GW in 2024 to 4.5 GW by 2030, with AI-specific centers potentially requiring an additional 40-50 TWh annually.
• Microsoft in the US has agreed to cover its increased electricity costs from AI operations, responding to scrutiny over the environmental impact of its data centers.

Why It Matters: India must pursue sustainable, energy-efficient AI to avoid the energy crisis faced by Western nations.