Since generative AI exploded into global consciousness in 2023, an unprecedented demand for computing power has emerged alongside the demand for apps utilising the technology. Tool's like OpenAI's ChatGPT require thousands of Nvidia GPUs (graphics processing units) to smoothly process all the information being fed in and output. Nvidia last week compared GPUs to rare earth metals for AI, saying they're "foundational" for the operation of generative AI today. The energy required to power all this hardware is the equivalent of a small country, according to a report released by French energy company Schneider Electric last year. On Wednesday OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, told an audience at Davos that an energy breakthrough was needed to power AI advances.

Facebook revenues soared to billions of pounds after it started giving away users' details. The social media giant practically doubled its takings every year after opening up profiles to'tens of thousands' of app developers. Facebook users were yesterday waking up to how much private information has been handed out. During the data gold-rush – which lasted from 2009 to 2015 – it appears almost anyone who described themselves as a'developer' could freely mine Facebook's database. Facebook revenues soared to billions of pounds after it started giving away users' details In this period, the technology firm's revenues rose sharply, from £500million in 2009 to nearly £13billion by 2015.