Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition)
Power play: will AI help or harm the climate?
Apr 9, 2025
In this discussion, AI writer Alex Hern delves into the environmental impact of AI systems, detailing the energy consumption of data centers. He highlights the paradox of AI's potential to both harm and help the climate, with applications ranging from optimizing electricity grids to detecting methane leaks. They also tackle the ethical considerations of AI's energy demands, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices. Lastly, Hern explores how responsible deployment of AI could play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change.
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Quick takeaways
- AI's escalating energy demands from data centers could worsen environmental impacts, highlighting the need for sustainable energy solutions like nuclear power.
- Transparency in the energy consumption of AI models is crucial for informed choices, driven by emerging rating systems and regulatory pressures.
Deep dives
The Environmental Impact of Data Centers
Data centers play a pivotal role in facilitating online activities like streaming and banking, but they also contribute significantly to energy consumption and environmental concerns. For instance, the operation of large data centers requires substantial cooling systems, alongside energy-intensive servers, leading to a noteworthy carbon footprint. The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is exacerbating this issue, as queries processed by AI models like ChatGPT demand significantly more electricity than traditional searches. Specifically, it has been noted that handling multiple AI queries can require considerable resources, including water, thereby highlighting the hidden environmental costs associated with AI usage.
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