The AI boom tests the limits of growth

Electricity demand is becoming the clearest measure of the AI industry's extraordinary expansion — and a test of how long that pace can last. Why it matters: The industry's pursuit of ever-larger models is fueling debate over whether they will deliver enough value to justify mounting environmental and financial costs. Driving the news: Google, Microsoft and Amazon all highlighted improved energy and water efficiency in sustainability reports released in recent weeks. But those gains are being…