The Environmental Impact of Generative AI

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The chapter discusses the lack of transparency in obtaining accurate data on the energy consumption and environmental impact of training large language models using generative AI. It delves into the challenges of obtaining reliable information on GPU energy usage and the manufacturing process, as well as the shift towards secrecy in the generative AI field. The conversation also examines the tension between profit-driven tech companies and environmental responsibility, questioning the sustainability benefits of generative AI technologies.

Paris Marx is joined by Sasha Luccioni to discuss the catastrophic environmental costs of the generative AI being increasing shoved into every tech product we touch.

Sasha Luccioni is an artificial intelligence researcher and Climate Lead at Hugging Face.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Sasha published a paper looking at the climate impacts of generative AI.
Paris wrote about the increased emissions at Google and Microsoft, and the consequences of the growing data center buildout.
Google’s emissions are up 48% in five years, while Microsoft’s are up 30% between 2020 and 2023.
Bill Gates is telling governments not to “go overboard” with concerns about AI energy use. He’s been much more active in Microsoft’s AI strategizing than he’s admitted publicly.
Microsoft President Brad Smith says its carbon “moonshot” is much farther away because of generative AI. The company is accelerating its data center construction plans.
Sam Altman says we can geoengineer the planet if we can’t develop an energy breakthrough to power AI.