IEA: data-centre electricity jumped 17% in 2025 — bottlenecks and offtake now define the near-term AI power story.
Observed-2025 layer — not earlier IEA 2030 TWh paths; not PJM ride-through.
Read today’s coverageFor people trying to make sense of AI
AI FootprintTM tracks how AI is changing work, infrastructure, policy, health, science, education, and culture. The front page carries the most important headlines; the category pages carry today's full list by beat.

Headline articles · September 19
Observed-2025 layer — not earlier IEA 2030 TWh paths; not PJM ride-through.
Read today’s coverageWithin-occupation transformation — not Boston Fed CPP 26-8; not a layoff print.
Read today’s coverageNVD agent workflow — not Article 50 labels; not FDA 510(k) denial.
Read today’s coverageRetrospective risk tool — not a bedside RCT; not Nature Medicine evidence comment.
Read today’s coverageDaily beats
Positive stories are included where they belong. A medical breakthrough goes under Health & Science. A job-gain story goes under Jobs. An energy-efficiency story goes under Environment.
Layoffs, hiring, wages, productivity, automation, job creation, and worker leverage.
02Energy demand, water use, emissions, data centers, grids, chips, and local siting conflicts.
03Regulation, safety, courts, procurement, enforcement, and public-sector governance.
04Medicine, biology, clinical AI, scientific discovery, and research infrastructure.
05Schools, children, media literacy, creative work, synthetic media, and public trust.
Editorial standard
Current pages carry the latest publishing window; older material goes to the archive.
Benefits are not siloed. Good news is filed under the category it affects.
Edition dates and story dates are kept separate.
The point is to help readers see what changed and why it matters.
Origin
Frank made a funny AI image during a work trip. A coworker said it was wasteful and bad for the environment. Instead of dismissing that concern, he wanted a better answer: what does one AI use actually cost, and how should people think about all the bigger uses happening every day?
Read the origin story