By Imed Derouiche – Energy, Hydrogen and Digital Transition Expert
For most of the digital age, energy or electricity was a background variable—essential, yet strategically invisible. Artificial intelligence has overturned this assumption. Today, power is no longer just a cost item; it is a strategic asset shaping competitiveness, location decisions, and the pace of innovation.
The acquisition of Intersect Power by Alphabet reflects a deeper structural shift: electricity is becoming as critical to AI leadership as chips, data, and talent.
AI and the End of Invisible Power
Figure 1 – Illustrative growth of AI-driven electricity demand.
From Energy Procurement to Energy Strategy
Historically, Big Tech relied on grid purchases and power purchase agreements. Grid congestion and interconnection delays have weakened this model, pushing technology firms toward direct investment in generation assets.
The Birth of the Tech–Energy Hybrid
Alphabet’s move illustrates the rise of a new hybrid industrial actor. Competitive advantage now depends on the ability to orchestrate both digital and energy infrastructure.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence is not only a software revolution but an infrastructure revolution. Electric power has become the primary raw material of intelligence at scale. In this context, the question is not whether Google is becoming an energy company, but how deeply energy will be embedded in the future business models of technology leaders.
