energy consumption Archives

Tech Optimizer

May 30, 2026

Postgres and Data Sovereignty Address Datacenter Energy Crisis

Lizzy Nguyen from EDB discusses the relationship between Postgres, data sovereignty, and energy constraints in datacenters. Local opposition to hyperscale datacenter constructions in the US is growing, highlighting energy consumption and regulatory challenges. AI-driven datacenters currently account for about 1.5% of global electricity consumption, projected to rise to nearly 3% by 2030 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Datacenter expenditures are expected to grow through 2029, with significant complexities in constructing necessary infrastructure for the first billion AI agents, which may take up to seven years. Data sovereignty and localized deployments are emerging as strategic responses to energy constraints, impacting deployment architecture and cost models for operators.

Tech Optimizer

May 30, 2026

AI and data sovereignty in Postgres: An answer to the datacenter energy crisis

This year has seen significant developments in datacenter expansion across various regions, including Arkansas, Southern California, Nevada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Box Elder, Utah, with localities concerned about energy consumption and infrastructure demands. In the UK, OpenAI's "Stargate UK" initiative has faced challenges due to energy consumption and regulatory scrutiny. New hyperscale datacenters often face grid-connection delays of up to seven years, and global spending on datacenters could reach one trillion by 2030. AI-driven datacenters currently account for about 1.5% of global electricity consumption, projected to rise to nearly 3% by 2030. The urgency for additional datacenters near energy sources is increasing, with IDC forecasting one billion agents executing 217 billion daily actions by 2029. 95% of global enterprises plan to develop their own AI and data platforms within the next 780 days. The BFSI sector typically allocates 6-12% of revenue to IT spending, compared to 3-5% in other industries. Only 13% of enterprises leveraging AI focus on control, efficiency, and sustainability in their data strategies. Leading BFSI organizations are committing to carbon neutrality and developing sovereign AI and data platforms. EDB Postgres AI aims to enhance energy efficiency in datacenters, potentially reducing energy consumption by up to 81% and emissions by 87%. Organizations adopting this model can achieve a fivefold return on investment and improved operational control.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Social Media Apps Tech Pros Warn Are Draining Your Storage & Slowing Down Your Phone

Social media applications, particularly messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, can accumulate significant data over time due to retaining all sent and received messages without user notification. This issue is magnified in group chats, where files shared by participants are stored regardless of whether they have been viewed. Additionally, Snapchat has evolved into a complex platform with features that increase its storage needs and battery drain. It is known for consuming battery life due to its use of location services, camera functionality, and background processes, often going unnoticed by users until they uninstall the app and experience improved battery performance.

Winsage

April 7, 2026

Google offers free ChromeOS Flex upgrade for Windows 10 users

Over 500 million Windows 10 PC owners are unable to upgrade to Windows 11 and may face security vulnerabilities. Google is offering a complimentary upgrade to ChromeOS Flex for these users, along with a reusable USB Kit priced at approximately €3 to facilitate the transition. Support for Windows 10 ended in October 2022, prompting users to either invest in new devices or continue using an outdated system. Microsoft is providing a free extended support update for Windows 10 users until October 2023, but many remain on the unsupported operating system due to slow adoption of Windows 11. Transitioning to ChromeOS Flex can reduce energy consumption by an average of 19% compared to other operating systems, promoting device longevity and reducing electronic waste.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Get in: Android Auto EVs see AI battery predictions in Google Maps for stress-free plans

Google Maps is introducing a new feature for Android Auto that enhances the driving experience for electric vehicle (EV) users by providing battery predictions. This allows drivers to enter their vehicle's starting battery percentage and receive a list of charging stations along their route, along with energy consumption estimates. The feature will be available for over 350 EV models in the United States and integrates real-time traffic data and specific vehicle information for more accurate usage estimates. This initiative leverages artificial intelligence and aims to improve EV functionality within Google Maps, building on previous updates focused on locating charging stations.

Tech Optimizer

March 29, 2026

Announcing Lakebase Public Preview

At the Data and AI Summit, Databricks announced the Public Preview of Databricks Lakebase, a fully-managed Postgres database designed for data applications and artificial intelligence. Lakebase addresses challenges in operational databases by merging operational and analytical data, offering a scalable architecture that separates compute from storage. It supports popular Postgres extensions and features low latency and high concurrency transactions. Lakebase includes multi-zone high availability, encrypted storage with point-in-time recovery, and copy-on-write branching for isolated testing. It integrates seamlessly with the Databricks lakehouse, enabling efficient data synchronization and unified governance. Lakebase is accessible across multiple cloud providers and is currently in Public Preview, with hundreds of customers already using it for various applications.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Google’s warning over battery-draining Android apps

The Google Play Store has introduced a warning system for Android applications that exhibit excessive background activity, which can lead to battery drain. This feature alerts users to apps that may consume a high amount of battery power due to background operations and was officially launched at the beginning of this month. Google, in collaboration with Samsung, has developed a beta metric called "excessive partial wake locks" to measure how often apps wake a device from sleep mode for background tasks. Not all apps will receive warnings; those with high energy consumption for essential functions, like music playback or location services, are exempt. The rollout of this system will occur gradually over the coming weeks.

Winsage

January 22, 2026

Microsoft needed a win with Windows’ latest update, but even its fix needed fixing

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the company's commitment to an AI-driven future, urging against dismissing AI-generated content. Users have expressed frustration with Windows' increasing focus on AI, particularly with the Copilot feature, leading to attempts to disable AI functionalities, with reports of 114 such attempts. Recent Microsoft updates have introduced complications, including black screen errors for Nvidia GPUs, a bug in Outlook Classic affecting POP account users, and unexpected restarts in Windows 11 Enterprise builds. Microsoft released additional patches, including update KB5077797, to address the restart issue, but the Outlook bug remains unresolved. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, acknowledged challenges but stated the gaming platform is strong. Last year's updates also caused significant disruptions, affecting essential OS functions and creative software. Some users found relief in the removal of Copilot through update KB5053602, while others are considering alternatives like MacBooks and Linux for a more streamlined experience.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

It’s not weird to want a generative AI disclosure on games

The rising costs of RAM have delayed a PC upgrade for the author, who reflects on the implications of technology in gaming. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, criticized Steam's generative AI disclosure requirement, comparing it to revealing haircare routines. The author supports Valve's perspective, viewing the disclosure as a safeguard against issues related to generative AI, which has been accused of automating plagiarism and using copyrighted material. The energy demands of AI data centers are also a concern, drawing parallels to collective environmental damage. Transparency in AI usage in gaming is deemed essential, with Activision's vague statement about generative AI in Call of Duty raising questions. The author believes that if AI enhances games, developers should explain their creative processes. As AI-generated content becomes more common, there may be a trend for developers to announce their lack of AI involvement, though the prospect of creativity driven by algorithms is seen as disheartening.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Millennium Whisper and the case for ethical, on-device AI in games

A recent survey by Google Cloud found that 90% of game developers are exploring generative AI. Millennium Whisper, a dating sim by Parable Studios, is the first game on Steam to run a large language model entirely on-device, avoiding cloud-based inference. This approach allows for unique in-game conversations and addresses ethical data usage, as actors retain ownership of their data and receive royalties. The game uses actor-led role-play sessions for character behavior, ensuring high-quality data. Running AI locally enhances energy efficiency and sustainability, contrasting with traditional server-based models that incur ongoing costs. Millennium Whisper received grant funding from Innovate UK and is currently in Early Access. Ambrose Robinson, the founder of Parable Studios, emphasizes the importance of energy savings and the sustainability of their AI approach.