Was es konkret heisst, „ausreichende“ Rechenkapazität bereitzustellen im Zeichen des #KI #AI Booms, zeigt diese sehr spannende Analyse am Beispiel des Großraums Berlin.

Ähnliche Großinvestitionen auch zB im Rhein-Main-Gebiet:

• ITZBund Master-Rechenzentrum: Modernes Bundesrechenzentrum mit über 4.500 Servern zur Unterstützung von Cloud- und KI-Anwendungen.
• Digital Park Fechenheim (Frankfurt): Großer Rechenzentrums-Campus mit 11 Gebäuden, spezialisiert auf KI und innovative Kühltechnologien.
• maincubes FRA03 (Schwalbach): Neues 16-Megawatt-Rechenzentrum mit nachhaltiger Energieversorgung und Abwärmenutzung im Fernwärmenetz.
• Rechenzentrum Hofheim: Geplantes Großkunden-Rechenzentrum mit Fokus auf nachhaltige und zukunftsorientierte Infrastruktur.
• Cluster Seckbach-Süd (Frankfurt): Eines der größten Rechenzentrumscluster Deutschlands mit fast 1 Gigawatt Leistung und intensiven Investitionen.
• NTT Data (Nierstein): Geplantes Mega-Rechenzentrum mit bis zu 480 MW IT-Leistung und Milliardeninvestitionen, Start Bau 2027.
• Green Mountain & KMW (Mainz): Nachhaltiges Rechenzentrum mit 18 MW Kapazität, das Rheinwasser zur Kühlung nutzt und Abwärme ins Fernwärmenetz einspeist.
• Datacenter Rhein-Neckar II (Ludwigshafen): Großes kommerzielles Rechenzentrum mit 2.340 m² Serverfläche und sehr hoher Energieeffizienz (PUE < 1,3).

Around six months ago, I pointed to the often overlooked small #AI models and #EdgeAI. In the fast-paced world of machine intelligence #AI, that feels like an eternity! Since then, we have seen some interesting developments, with specialised modules available for small computers such as the Raspberry Pi. These devices require minimal energy, making them ideal for sustainable tech solutions.

Recently, a quite powerful little module hit the market, boasting 60 TOPS INT8 performance in a tiny M.2 form factor. The SAKURA-II M.2 can be configured with up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 68 GB/sec memory bandwidth. With this, while being very far from high-end platforms, this is a quite decent performance to run smaller, specialised models. Being a great resource for experimenting with AI and GenAI applications, it also has the potential to offer compact and cost-effective solutions. It will be interesting to see if there will be also some meaningful use cases, e.g. in health care.

Why Does This Matter?

• Accessibility: Small AI models and Edge AI make advanced technology accessible to a broader range of users.
• Sustainability: These solutions are energy-efficient. This makes this technology available with a small energy footprint.
• Innovation: Leveraging open-source models and affordable hardware provides a valuable means of experimenting in unexplored areas, thereby fostering innovation and growth.

As computational power needs to be massively expanded with the broad application of machine intelligence #AI #LLMs, the topic of #energy consumption and environmental footprint in general has rightly received more attention.

That’s why this is timely: The Green Algorithms calculator is a simple yet powerful tool that helps users understand the environmental impact of the systems they are building. By entering details about the hardware, runtime, and location of the computation, projects' carbon footprints can be estimated. This tool wants to be more than just raising awareness; it wants to drive change. 🌳 🌎

Anyone in #InternationalDevelopment who still thinks that things could more or less continue as they have in previous decades, but with improved communication to maintain government funding, should listen to Douglas Alexander. He served as International Development Secretary from 2007 to 2010, and is now the UK’s Trade Minister:

Alexander said he had long believed it was “morally right” and “strategically smart” to invest in international aid but added: “I think we have lost the argument at various points.”

“We have an interest in building a stable, more equal, more safe world for our future generations,” he said. “But public consent has been withdrawn. And truthfully on aid, it’s not just fiscally challenged, it’s culturally challenged as well. Even if the money weren’t tight, the argument would have to be made.”

The whole concept needs to be rethought from the ground up, with a focus on reconnecting with the people on both sides of the system: those in the countries that should benefit from it, as well as those providing the funding. #FutureOfCooperation

Article from BBC: We’ve lost the argument on aid, says minister

Full interview (30 min) from the “Political Thinking with Nick Robinson” podcast

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TL;DR: I switched to Mistral AI to support European tech innovation. Join me in supporting homegrown AI excellence!

In my personal tool stack, the LLM quickly became an useful asset, especially for experimenting with the technology’s potential and limitations. However, as I have become more discerning about the companies behind specific services, I am currently considering alternatives to the global market leaders, such as self-hosting, using open-source software, or switching to a European provider.

I have therefore moved my paid/pro AI account from a leading US provider to #Mistral #AI, a #European alternative. This decision aligns with my commitment to supporting and leveraging European technological advancements. 💼

I found that Mistral AI, which is headquartered in France, offers a competitive model with features that are relevant to me. By choosing Mistral AI, I am tapping into a growing ecosystem of European tech excellence. I expect them to have a commitment to open-source models and to adhere to European standards, which makes them a compelling choice for businesses and individuals alike. 🏢

Supporting European tech companies like Mistral AI fosters local innovation and contributes to a more diverse and resilient global tech landscape. I’m excited to be part of this movement and to see how European AI continues to evolve and compete on the world stage. 🚀

#EuropeanTech #AISovereignty #TechInnovation #MistralAI

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🚀 Deutsche #Entwicklungszusammenarbeit neu denken! Der derzeitige Ansatz scheitert an der Vermischung widersprüchlicher Ziele. Er sollte als #InternationaleZusammenarbeit mit klar abgegrenzten Konzepten gestrafft werden:

1️⃣ Community-Led Growth 🌱: Lokale Eigenverantwortung für nachhaltigen Wandel

2️⃣ Ethical Business Partnerships: Faire Zusammenarbeit und Handel, gemeinsamer Wohlstand.

3️⃣ Faire globale Governance: Marginalisierten Stimmen Gehör verschaffen.

Lesen Sie den vollständigen Beitrag (4 Min. Lesezeit) in meinem Blog.

Klarheit = Wirkung. Zeit, sich zu fokussieren!

#FutureOfCooperation

Rethinking German Development Cooperation: A Three-Pillar Approach to Reconnected Bilateral Cooperation 🌍

In a recent post, I suggested that the development cooperation industry is like a cruise ship that has drifted far from the people it aims to serve and become trapped in a self-referential bubble. In order to reconnect, the ship must dock and rebuild. #FutureOfCooperation

There are many reasons why development cooperation needs a rebuild. One is often overlooked: It currently tries to balance conflicting goals that simply don’t align. The result? Vague objectives, overly complex processes, and a disconnect between ambition and reality that undermines credibility.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach in structures, methods, and communication, I propose clearly distinct “cooperation concepts”. Each concept must have clear identities, tailored methods, and defined stakeholder groups, ensuring streamlined implementation, sharper communication, and evaluation by appropriate metrics. This clarity is essential not just for efficiency but for impactful, meaningful results.

I currently see three distinct concepts of cooperation:

1. Cooperation from the Ground Up 🌱

This first cooperation concept deliberately moves away from traditional top-down approaches. Sustainable change requires local leadership, indigenous knowledge and ownership. Methodologically, it overlaps with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus — success is measured by how well communities lead their own transformation, with external support strengthening local capacity rather than replacing it.

2. Responsible Business, Shared Success 🤝

This approach promotes ethical economic partnerships between European businesses and public/private sectors in partner countries. Prioritising responsible business conduct, fair trade, labor rights, environmental protection, and inclusive growth, it ensures mutual economic benefits. Success is measured by economic impact and shared prosperity, emphasising transparent, fair business practices.

3. Fair Representation, Amplified Impact 🗣️

The third cooperation concept is about fair global governance. So called Global South nations still often lack influence in international governance. This model seeks balanced global governance through capacity-building, institutional reforms, and advocacy support. Success involves shifting power dynamics, ensuring inclusive governance and effective representation.

Why This Matters

Breaking down international cooperation into clearly distinct concepts enables us to create a more focused and effective approach, generating powerful narratives. Proper implementation is key, and it would be made even easier if different institutions were held accountable. Political leadership must prevent scope creep and maintain clarity of concept. This will create real and lasting results, promote ethical business practices and inclusive global governance.