Japan’s AI Dilemma: Will DeepSeek Reduce Energy Use or Make It Worse?
TOKYO, JAPAN, 3rd February 2025 – Japan is in a tech vs energy showdown. As AI grows, data centers are booming, and energy consumption is skyrocketing. The government expects power demand to increase by 10-20% by 2040 mainly due to AI usage.
But now a new player has entered the field—DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that claims to be more energy efficient. Some say this will reduce energy use, others think it will make AI more accessible and widespread.
So, will AI’s energy use get out of control or will smarter tech ease the strain on Japan’s grid?
Japan’s Government is Unconvinced Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is aware of the issue but isn’t making any predictions. In a recent statement, METI said AI-related energy demand depends on many factors—better AI performance, lower costs, energy-saving technologies.
“For this reason, it is difficult to describe the impact on future energy demand with a single example,” METI said in an email.
In short, Japan knows AI will use more electricity but it’s not sure by how much or when.
DeepSeek: The Game-Changer or Just Hype? DeepSeek is calling itself an energy-efficient AI. If true, that would help control AI-related power demand. But some experts say making AI cheaper and more accessible could actually increase AI adoption and therefore energy consumption.
Think of it like this: energy efficient LED bulbs use less power but because they are cheaper, people buy more of them. Same with AI—more affordable, more users, more electricity needed.
So what’s next? Japan is at a fork in the road. On one side AI is the key to economic growth and global competitiveness. On the other side the country needs to secure enough clean energy to meet demand without making the climate crisis worse.
For now the future is unclear. Will AI be a power hungry beast or a sustainable tech revolution? One thing is for sure—Japan needs an energy plan before AI takes over.
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