Apr 30, 2026 Reframing AI’s energy problem Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI Courtesy Emerald AI AI is driving up demand for power around the world, contributing to rising prices and supply crunch fears. Emerald AI, launched last year, is flipping the script. The startup uses software to shift electricity demand, orchestrating when and where AI workloads run based on grid conditions and the specific performance requirements. It’s a huge market. Duke University research has estimated that the existing U.S. grid could accommodate roughly 100 gigawatts of new flexible load, a massive figure equal to more than one-tenth of U.S. peak power demand. If it succeeds, Emerald AI could become a critical layer at the intersection of energy and AI globally.  “Energy is our critical bottleneck,” says Varun Sivaram , CEO and founder of Emerald AI.…