Data center energy consumption threatens efforts to reduce carbon footprint.
O Googleon its journey to reduce its digital footprint, is faced with a major challenge: the growing energy consumption of artificial intelligence. Despite its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, the company’s annual environmental report revealed a worrying 48% increase in greenhouse gas emissions since 2019. This growth is mainly driven by the data centers that support its AI products, such as Gemini, requiring increasingly more electricity and generating emissions.
Energy consumption by these centers and supply chain emissions are the main drivers of this increase. The International Energy Agency estimates that electricity demand from data centers could double by 2026, requiring consumption equivalent to that of Japan. Artificial intelligence is expected to consume 4.5% of global energy generation by 2030.
This hunger for energy puts Google’s net-zero emissions goal in check. Microsoft has faced similar challenges, with CEO Brad Smith admitting that the company’s AI strategy has compromised its carbon-negative goal.
Despite the challenges, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates suggests that artificial intelligence could be an ally in the fight against climate change. Tech companies could invest in renewable energy for their data centers, reducing their environmental impact. However, the intensive energy use and emissions associated with manufacturing and transporting servers and chips put this promise at risk.
In addition to energy consumption, water use is also a significant issue. It is estimated that AI could account for up to 6.6 billion cubic metres of water use by 2027, almost two-thirds of England’s annual consumption.
The future of artificial intelligence depends on sustainable measures. The development of this technology must be done responsibly, ensuring that its potential for good is not compromised by its environmental cost.
*With information from The Guardian
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