As the summer of 2025 approaches, significant portions of the United States, particularly the central regions and New England, are bracing for potential electricity power shortages. This concern arises from a confluence of factors. Including rising energy demand, the retirement of traditional power plants, and the challenges associated with integrating renewable energy sources.

Rising Demand Meets Aging Infrastructure

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has highlighted that electricity demand is projected to increase by approximately 10 gigawatts compared to the previous summer. This surge is mainly due to the fast growth in energy-heavy sectors. These include data centers, factories, and electric vehicles. At the same time, over 7 gigawatts of fossil fuel power have been shut down. This raises concerns about meeting peak demand.

Shifting to solar and wind is good for the environment. But it makes the power supply less steady. These sources depend on the weather. Large battery systems are not yet enough to store extra energy. At the same time, old fossil-fueled plants are shutting down. This makes people question whether the grid can handle extreme weather.

Image credits – pexels.com

Regional Vulnerabilities

Several regions are identified as particularly vulnerable.

Texas (ERCOT): Faces potential shortfalls during early evening hours when solar generation decreases but demand remains high.

• Southwest Power Pool (SPP): States like Montana and Nebraska could experience reliability issues due to the variability of wind power.

• Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO): Has seen a reduction in supply owing to retiring power plants, placing it at high risk even during normal peak demand periods.

• New England: The recent retirement of two natural-gas-fired generators at the Mystic Generating Station in Massachusetts has reduced capacity by 1,400 megawatts, increasing the risk of energy emergencies.

Contributing Factors

Beyond the retirement of traditional power plants, other factors exacerbate the risk of power shortages:

• Delayed Infrastructure Development: Utilities face challenges in developing new power plants and upgrading transmission infrastructure, hindered by supply chain issues and a shortage of skilled technicians.

• Extreme Weather Events: Meteorologists predict another particularly hot and dry summer, similar to previous record-breaking years, which could strain the grid further.

• Integration of Renewable Energy: While approximately 30 gigawatts of solar and 13 gigawatts of battery storage were added over the past year, the lack of new transmission infrastructure hampers the effective distribution of this energy.

Looking Ahead

The current energy landscape underscores the need for a balanced approach that ensures reliability while transitioning to cleaner energy sources. Policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders must collaborate to accelerate the development of infrastructure, enhance grid resilience, and implement strategies that address both current and future energy demands.

Even as 5G networks continue to expand around the world, conversations about 6G are already gaining momentum. This rapid shift raises an important question among humans. Do we truly need a new generation of wireless technology so soon? Some experts argue that 5G’s capabilities are more than enough for today’s demands. Others believe that 6G could unlock groundbreaking advancements in communication, artificial intelligence, and even climate monitoring. As the debate grows louder, one thing becomes clear. We must ask whether 6G is a true necessity or simply an incremental step forward.

What is 6G?

6G is the next generation of wireless technology expected to launch around 2030. Operates with terahertz frequencies and offers ultra-low latency, ultra-fast speed, and a large amount of device connectivity. Researchers are exploring its potential applications in advanced AI and other applications like environmental sensing.

Capabilities of 6G

Faster Speeds and lower latency

6G could provide speeds up to 100 times faster than 5G. This could make real-time applications like augmented reality and remote surgery seamless. A lower latency of below one millisecond would enhance machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, making smart cities and industries more efficient.

Environmental Monitoring

6G could be capable of detecting greenhouse gases. The terahertz frequencies used in 6G are absorbed by atmospheric gases, allowing sensors to detect their presence and concentration. This could help track air pollution and climate change in real-time, providing valuable environmental insights.

Artificial Intelligence-driven communication

Unlike traditional networks that rely on fixed protocols, 6G could integrate artificial intelligence to optimize network traffic dynamically. This would allow devices to infer missing data instead of waiting for retransmission, reducing bandwidth use and energy consumption. Researchers are exploring “semantic communications,” where machines understand and process information instead of simply transmitting raw data. This could transform how devices interact in the IoT world.

Expanding Connectivity

6G aims to bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed internet in remote and underserved areas. With its ability to transmit data at ultra-high frequencies, it could offer seamless global coverage through satellite and aerial networks. This could benefit industries like agriculture, logistics, and disaster management.

Do we really Need It?

Still, 5Gis  not yet fully deployed, and many of its promised benefits, such as smart cities and autonomous driving, are in early stages. Critics argue that rather than rushing into 6G.  We should focus on optimizing 5G and making it more energy-efficient and widely available. Developing 6G networks will require massive investments in new infrastructure. Terahertz waves have a very short range, meaning more base stations and repeaters will be needed. This could lead to higher costs for telecom companies and consumers.  While 6G could improve energy efficiency through AI-driven optimization, the initial rollout may increase overall power consumption due to the need for dense networks of antennas and processing power. Sustainability concerns remain a challenge. With increasing reliance on AI and interconnected devices, cybersecurity risks will also grow. New encryption techniques and regulatory measures will be needed to prevent cyber threats in a world dominated by intelligent machines and ultra-fast data transmission.

6G has the potential to revolutionize communication, AI integration, and environmental monitoring. However, whether it is truly necessary depends on how effectively we utilize 5G in the coming years. If 5G can meet most of our needs, a move to 6G might be less urgent. But if we aim for a future where machines reason intelligently, data flows instantly, and connectivity reaches every corner of the planet, then 6 G could be the next crucial step.

So, do we really need 6G? The answer depends on whether we want an incremental upgrade or a complete transformation of digital communication.

Google is bringing lock screen widgets to Android 16 phones later this year. These widgets have been available on the Pixel Tablet since last year, but now they are coming to phones and more tablets. By default, all widgets will support the lock screen. However, app developers can choose to disable this feature. Some actions, like opening an app, will still require authentication via fingerprint, PIN, or face unlock. Google announced this change on the Android Developers Blog. Lock screen widgets will be added to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) in the first update after Android 16 launches in late summer. Android 16 is still in beta and is set to release in June.

Is this new to Android?

Lock screen widgets aren’t entirely new to Android. Google first introduced them in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean back in 2012, allowing users to add widgets directly to the lock screen for quick access to information. However, the feature was removed in Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014. One major reason was security concerns—widgets could display sensitive information without unlocking the phone.

What’s new in Android 16?

Currently, lock screen widgets for phones are not enabled in the latest beta. However, Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman managed to activate them early. On the Pixel Tablet, users swipe right from the home screen to access widgets. But for phones, the current implementation only works in screensaver mode when the device is charging or docked.

Google says hardware manufacturers can customize how widgets are triggered. This means different phones may have different implementations. Another key difference is screen size. Unlike the Pixel Tablet’s two-row grid, phone widgets are stacked vertically, with only a few visible at once.

What do you think about lock screen widgets making a comeback? Will they improve your Android experience, or do you prefer a cleaner lock screen? Let us know your tech thoughts in the comments!