AI Disruption

AI Disruption

AI Needs Electricians: 300% Pay Boom

Big Tech poaches energy pros to power AI data centers amid global electricity crunch

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Meng Li
Jan 16, 2026
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The war for AI talent among the tech giants has now expanded beyond just computer science.

The latest hiring hotspot that’s caught attention is: “electricians.”

Just kidding—more accurately, it’s about focusing on energy issues, as tech giants have begun strengthening their expert teams in this field.

Take Microsoft, for example. According to CNBC data, the company has hired over 570 new employees in the energy sector since 2022.

There’s even been some mutual poaching between Microsoft and Google: Microsoft first lured away Betsy Beck, Google’s global head of energy markets and policy, then Google retaliated by poaching Patrick Taylor, a nuclear energy executive from Microsoft.

It’s not just Microsoft—Amazon and Google are also quietly making big moves.

After all, the fact that big tech companies are running short on electricity for AI is no longer a secret. Microsoft CEO Nadella has publicly stated:

Power shortages are more critical than GPU shortages.

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