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Energy demands from AI data centers to quadruple by 2030 (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The global rush to AI technology will require almost as much energy by 2030 as Japan uses today. One data center today consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, but some of those currently under construction will require 20 times more.

Processing data, mainly for AI, will consume more electricity in the US alone than manufacturing steel, cement, chemicals and all other energy-intensive goods combined, according to a report from the International Energy Agency.

AI has the potential to reverse all the gains made in recent years in advanced economies to reduce their energy use, mainly through efficiencies. The rapid increase in AI also means companies will seek the most readily available energy – which could come from gas plants, which were on their way out in many developed countries. In the US, the demand could even be met by coal-fired power stations being given a new lease on life, aided by Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for them.

https://archive.ph/n4xyL

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Fears that the rapid adoption of AI will destroy hopes of tackling the climate crisis have been “overstated”, according to the report, which was published on Thursday. That is because harnessing AI to make energy use and other activities more efficient could result in savings that reduce greenhouse gas emissions overall. (Bolded the key word there.)

They go on to list some potential uses for AI, such as improving efficiency in the energy grid & manufacturing (ignoring the fact that increasing efficiency increases consumption), optimizing traffic, finding more critical mineral reserves, etc.

These uses could offset some of the massive demands that AI will place on the world’s energy systems. But that is likely to require greater direction from governments, the IEA report found. Left alone, the rapid growth of AI could prove a severe problem for energy systems and the environment.

Hm, wonder which path we're going to choose.

Claude Turmes, a former Green MEP and energy minister for Luxembourg, said the disadvantages of AI were more likely to materialise than the optimistic projections of the IEA, and governments needed much more help to avoid the pitfalls. He accused the IEA of painting too rosy a picture and failing to spell out harsh truths to policymakers.