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Energy & Innovation

Carnegie Mellon University thrives at the busy intersection of AI, innovation and energy, and our world-class researchers are busy tackling some of society's toughest challenges today while also pioneering new solutions for tomorrow.



 

Learn more about this work across four areas of impact:

CMU researchers are forecasting the rising energy demands of AI data centers to inform policymakers and planners, developing strategies to reduce consumption for greater environmental and grid resilience, and exploring how to build the power infrastructure needed to sustainably support this growth.

Innovation in AI can enable important new capabilities, but this technological revolution can also bring potential new impacts - from increased energy bills to additional pollution to strained resources. CMU researchers are exploring these challenges and forging paths forward to a future where AI infrastructure can be developed sustainably, and in a way that responds to the needs of local communities.

Advances in AI mean increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats. CMU is well positioned to meet these challenges with innovative solutions spun out of the CyLab Robotics Security and Privacy Initiative, which studies the security of autonomous robotics systems; and the Software and Engineering Institute, a research center that is leveraging AI to create a more resilient power grid.

At CMU, our discoveries don’t stay in the lab. We pride ourselves on cutting edge research and technology - such as inventing new materials for next-generation energy systems and in launching start-ups based on our research.

Our new initiative to build a national network of AI-enabled autonomous laboratories is designed to hypercharge American innovation, shortening scientific problem solving from years to weeks.