GENERATING A(I) CRISIS: Big Tech Breaking Climate Commitments to Chase AI Hype
Rising energy consumption, failed climate goals at major tech corporations.
Today, the Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition (CAAD) releases GENERATING A(I) CRISIS: The impact of “generative AI” and machine learning systems on corporate accountability and power system decarbonisation. The report demonstrates how the world’s largest tech companies, Google, Microsoft and Nvidia, are abandoning their emissions targets in order to expand artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems.
The expansion of AI is a climate problem being sold as a climate solution, already causing serious spikes in energy use that are polluting communities and driving up electricity costs.
Major findings include:
- In addition to skyrocketing energy demand, AI growth is relying on fossil-fueled power stations while also helping to optimize the growth of the fossil fuel industry.
- Potential growth in AI energy demand may offset as much as one of every four EV sales by 2030.
- Google’s AI alone could consume as much as the entire nation of Ireland, where data centers are consuming all new clean energy installations.
- Tech leaders have argued that solutions like carbon capture and nuclear energy could compensate for high energy demand; however, the data shows these are empty solutions.
- In addition to environmental concerns, the analysis shows that AI is turbocharging climate disinformation by making it easier than ever to generate evocative and false images, such as wind turbines killing whales.
The report findings contrast with the recent statements by Big Tech, including:
- In September 2024 at New York Climate Week, Microsoft said that they “see AI as a tool that literally can save lives” and is “definitely a hero.” In its annual report, the company said that “AI can be a powerful accelerant in addressing the climate crisis.”
- Also during Climate Week, Nvidia said the energy efficiency gains are “going to be incredible.”
- At COP28, Google said that “AI has the potential to unlock insights that could help mitigate 5% to 10% of GHG emissions by 2030. Earlier, they said “Advances in AGI research will supercharge society’s ability to tackle and manage climate change.”
CAAD first documented the environmental costs of AI in its March 2024 report. The coalition demands transparency in energy use reporting, comprehensive reporting on product safety, and accountability by government institutions.
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