AI will accelerate the development of superconductivity, but it will not lead to a real technological leap and not in the expected place.

Superconductivity as a Response to the Energy Crisis of Data Centers

Data centers (DCs) that support artificial intelligence face two main problems: power shortages and the limitations of traditional copper cables.

Because increasing energy generation takes time, optimizing losses in the distribution network remains the only way to reduce consumption. Superconductivity is the sole path to significant resistance reduction, but implementing it is not straightforward.

Why Superconductors Matter for Data Centers
Problem | Traditional Solution | Limitations | Losses in Copper Wires | Heat and High Current Flows | 5 % or More of Energy Lost on the Way to Consumers (USA) | Infrastructure Footprint | Large Cable Networks, Transformers | Take Up Almost as Much Space as the Servers Themselves
Superconductors allow:

* Reduce losses – resistance becomes zero.
* Compactness – one superconducting circuit occupies less space than several copper cables and transformers.
* Low voltage drop – power is transmitted with almost no loss.

HTS (High‑Temperature Superconductor) Technology
* Main material: REBCO – rare‑earth barium copper oxide.
* Cooling with liquid nitrogen (~ –196 °C) eliminates resistance.
* The cooling system operates in a closed loop with nitrogen recirculation, making it safe and industrially scalable.

Investments and Prototypes
Microsoft invested $75 million in Veir, a company developing HTS cables.

Prototypes of power racks using superconducting cables have demonstrated:

* Reduced energy losses.
* Smaller footprint for the energy infrastructure.
* Greater network resilience and lower environmental impact.

Barriers and Outlook
1. High initial cost of materials and cryogenic equipment.
2. Need for precise engineering integration into existing networks.
3. Current limitations in scaling.

Nevertheless, experts believe superconductivity will be especially useful for power‑hungry AI computing and data centers where space and capacity are critical. As REBCO tape production grows and solutions become standardized, prices will fall, making HTS cables increasingly competitive.

Conclusion
Superconductors promise efficient, compact, and environmentally friendly power systems for data centers. They are the key to managing the exponential growth in energy consumption in the age of artificial intelligence.