Leaders worldwide are moving fast to deploy AI at scale. But scaling AI means more data centers—and data centers consume vast quantities of energy. On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey’s Jesse Noffsinger and Pankaj Sachdeva speak with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about what needs to happen to build new, bigger data centers quickly, as well as to sate their growing hunger for power.

Articles mentioned: 

A generational shift: The future of foreign aid

Risk rebalancing: Five important geopolitical-risk questions for CIOs

Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw

Leaders worldwide are moving fast to deploy AI at scale. But scaling AI means more data centers&mdash;and data centers consume vast quantities of energy. On this episode of <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-podcast">The McKinsey Podcast</a>, McKinsey&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/jesse-noffsinger">Jesse Noffsinger</a> and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/pankaj-sachdeva">Pankaj Sachdeva</a> speak with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about what needs to happen to build new, bigger data centers quickly, as well as to sate their growing hunger for power.
Articles mentioned:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/social-sector/our-insights/a-generational-shift-the-future-of-foreign-aid">A generational shift: The future of foreign aid</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/risk-rebalancing-five-important-geopolitical-risk-questions-for-cios">Risk rebalancing: Five important geopolitical-risk questions for CIOs</a>
Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw

The McKinsey Podcast, our new flagship podcast series, takes you inside our global firm, and features conversations with experts on issues that matter most in business and management. McKinsey & Company is a management-consulting firm that helps businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations realize their most important goals. Topics covered in this series include strategy, technology, leadership, marketing, operations, organization, and the role of business in society.

The McKinsey Podcast features conversations with experts from global management-consulting firm McKinsey & Company, focusing on the issues that matter most in business and management.

The McKinsey Podcast

Our flagship series The McKinsey Podcast takes you inside our global firm, and features conversations with experts on issues that matter most in business and management. McKinsey & Company is a management-consulting firm that helps businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations realize their most important goals. Topics covered in this series include strategy, technology, leadership, marketing, operations, organization, and the role of business in society.

Our flagship series The McKinsey Podcast takes you inside our global firm, and features conversations with experts on issues that matter most in business and management. McKinsey &amp; Company is a management-consulting firm that helps businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations realize their most important goals. Topics covered in this series include strategy, technology, leadership, marketing, operations, organization, and the role of business in society.

Data centers: The race to power AI

People are asked to update the operating systems on their phones all the time. What if leaders applied that same kind of polishing and bug fixing to themselves? McKinsey research shows that executives who periodically review and revise their priorities, roles, time, and energy tend to be more productive, work more consciously, and drive change more effectively. In this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, Senior Partner Arne Gast joins McKinsey Editorial Director Roberta Fusaro to discuss how leaders can tune up their own personal operating models.

Articles mentioned:

America at 250

In a moment of tariffs, can the world find balance and trust to thrive?

Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw

People are asked to update the operating systems on their phones all the time. What if leaders applied that same kind of polishing and bug fixing to themselves? McKinsey research shows that executives who periodically review and revise their priorities, roles, time, and energy tend to be more productive, work more consciously, and drive change more effectively. In this episode of <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-podcast">The McKinsey Podcast</a>, Senior Partner <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/arne-gast">Arne Gast</a> joins McKinsey Editorial Director Roberta Fusaro to discuss how leaders can tune up their own personal operating models.
Articles mentioned:
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/america-at-250">America at 250</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/in-a-moment-of-tariffs-can-the-world-find-balance-and-trust-to-thrive">In a moment of tariffs, can the world find balance and trust to thrive?</a>
Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw

Don’t get stuck in a rut—update how you operate

Quantum computing has long been technology’s white whale. But in recent months, new developments suggest practical applications for this elusive technology could finally be within reach. “Quantum has been five to ten years away from fruition for many, many decades,” says McKinsey Partner Michael Bogobowicz. “Now it feels three to five years away.” In this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, Bogobowicz joins McKinsey Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly to discuss how quantum differs from conventional computing, what its potential use cases are likely to be, and how to prepare for the highs and lows of a world that could move exponentially faster than it does today. 

In our second segment we ask, what’s the most important factor in having a successful transformation? McKinsey Senior Partner Michael Bucy says it’s the CEO.  

Articles mentioned:

Navigating tariffs with a geopolitical nerve center

The Global Trade Explorer

Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw

Quantum computing has long been technology&rsquo;s white whale. But in recent months, new developments suggest practical applications for this elusive technology could finally be within reach. &ldquo;Quantum has been five to ten years away from fruition for many, many decades,&rdquo; says McKinsey Partner Michael Bogobowicz. &ldquo;Now it feels <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/steady-progress-in-approaching-the-quantum-advantage">three to five years away</a>.&rdquo; In this episode of <a href="https://www.mckinsey.org/featured-insights/mckinsey-podcast">The McKinsey Podcast</a>, Bogobowicz joins McKinsey Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly to discuss how quantum differs from conventional computing, what its potential use cases are likely to be, and how to prepare for the highs and lows of a world that could move exponentially faster than it does today.&nbsp;
In our second segment we ask, what&rsquo;s the most important factor in having a successful transformation? McKinsey Senior Partner <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/michael-bucy">Michael Bucy</a> says it&rsquo;s the CEO.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Articles mentioned:
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/geopolitics/our-insights/navigating-tariffs-with-a-geopolitical-nerve-center">Navigating tariffs with a geopolitical nerve center</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/global-trade-explorer?sector=0ag">The Global Trade Explorer</a>
Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw

Quantum computing: Game on

Banking has had a couple of very good years—the best, in fact, since the global financial crisis of 2007–09. Yet to some, the industry’s outlook seems less buoyant than recent profitability might suggest. On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey Senior Partners Klaus Dallerup and Pradip Patiath speak with McKinsey Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about McKinsey’s latest global banking annual review, breaking down the sources of skepticism, the risks and opportunities of a changing landscape, and lessons leaders can take from banks that have consistently outperformed over the past decade.

Articles mentioned:

M&A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving?

Investing in housing: Unlocking economic mobility for Black families and all Americans

Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw.

Banking has had a couple of very good years&mdash;the best, in fact, since the global financial crisis of 2007&ndash;09. Yet to some, the industry&rsquo;s outlook seems less buoyant than recent profitability might suggest. On this episode of&nbsp;The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey Senior Partners Klaus Dallerup and Pradip Patiath speak with McKinsey Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about McKinsey&rsquo;s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/global-banking-annual-review" data-stringify-link="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/global-banking-annual-review" data-sk="tooltip_parent">global banking annual review</a>, breaking down the sources of skepticism, the risks and opportunities of a changing landscape, and lessons leaders can take from banks that have consistently outperformed over the past decade.
Articles mentioned:
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/top-m-and-a-trends" data-stringify-link="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/top-m-and-a-trends" data-sk="tooltip_parent">M&amp;A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/bem/our-insights/investing-in-housing-unlocking-economic-mobility-for-black-families-and-all-americanshttps://www.mckinsey.com/bem/our-insights/investing-in-housing-unlocking-economic-mobility-for-black-families-and-all-americans" data-stringify-link="https://www.mckinsey.com/bem/our-insights/investing-in-housing-unlocking-economic-mobility-for-black-families-and-all-americanshttps://www.mckinsey.com/bem/our-insights/investing-in-housing-unlocking-economic-mobility-for-black-families-and-all-americans" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Investing in housing: Unlocking economic mobility for Black families and all Americans</a>
Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw.

Data centers: The race to power AI

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