Preeti
Microsoft is making progress towards its environmental “moonshot” goal by building a datacentre in London that will run fully on renewable energy. However, the construction and operation of datacentres contribute to the company’s overall carbon emissions. AI, a key focus for Microsoft, is driving up energy consumption, with datacentres projected to use a significant portion of global energy generation by 2030.
Bill Gates believes AI can help combat climate change, but the energy demands of AI models are a concern. Large language models like ChatGPT consume a lot of energy during training and inference phases, leading to high electricity usage in datacentres. The environmental impact of AI is a growing concern, with calls for governments to impose carbon taxes to capture the emissions from servers.
Tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are investing in renewable energy resources to meet climate targets. However, challenges remain in sourcing renewable energy for datacentres, with the need to build near sources of hydro or geothermal power. The energy consumption of AI is a significant issue, with concerns about the strain on demand for renewable energy and the potential reliance on fossil fuels.
Despite the energy challenges, some argue that AI can ultimately save energy compared to human activities like writing and illustrating. Redirecting labor towards green jobs could be a potential solution. Overall, the environmental impact of AI and datacentres is a complex issue that tech companies are working to address through renewable energy investments and sustainability initiatives.
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Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/29/ai-drive-brings-microsofts-green-moonshot-down-to-earth-in-west-london
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