December 9, 2025
Gigawatts, jets, and internet bets
AI needs more power than the grid can deliver – supersonic tech can fix that
Jet tech to juice AI power; fans cheer, skeptics cry “AI slop,” and memes yell “Great Scott”
TLDR: Boom unveiled a 42‑megawatt gas turbine for AI data centers, raised $300M, and touted a 1.21‑gigawatt deal. Commenters split between applause and eye‑rolls—memes shouted “Great Scott!” while skeptics called it “AI slop” and argued physics won’t bend for marketing, underscoring AI’s urgent power crunch.
Boom Supersonic just jumped from fast planes to fast power, claiming its new 42‑megawatt natural‑gas turbine—cheekily named “Superpower”—can feed AI’s energy hunger. The company says it raised $300M, has Crusoe as launch customer, and even inked a 1.21 gigawatt deal. CEO Blake Scholl’s post reads like a hero origin story (yes, there’s a Sam Altman text) but the real blockbuster is the comments section.
The vibe? A spicy split-screen. On one side, curious optimists like msandford admit they “learned a thing” and praise the move as a smart, profitable test bed for Boom’s engine tech. On the other, skeptics like d_silin slam it as “50% AI slop,” arguing that hot weather hurts all turbines—no shiny supersonic magic can dodge thermodynamics. One comment even got flagged, adding a sprinkle of forum drama.
And then came the memes. The 1.21 gigawatt line detonated a full‑blown “Back to the Future” wave—“Great Scott!” echoed through the thread, with jokes about lightning bolts powering data centers. In between punchlines, folks debated “behind‑the‑meter” power (building plants right by data centers). Hype or helpful? The crowd can’t agree, but they’re definitely watching—and laughing—loudly.
Key Points
- •Boom Supersonic announced Superpower, a 42‑megawatt natural gas turbine derived from its Symphony engine.
- •The company raised $300 million and named Crusoe as the launch customer for Superpower.
- •Blake Scholl states Boom is now on a self‑funded path for Superpower and the Overture airliner.
- •The article cites a signed deal for 1.21 gigawatts and the start of manufacturing of the first turbine.
- •Hyperscalers are deploying behind‑the‑meter power plants (e.g., xAI in Memphis, OpenAI in Abilene) using aeroderivative turbines due to grid constraints.