"Generative Artificial Intelligence Leads to Tripled Carbon Emissions"

2024-09-09

According to a research report released by investment bank Morgan Stanley, global data centers may emit 2.5 billion tons of greenhouse gases from now until 2030. In the report titled "Global Data Centers: Scale and Solutions for Carbon Dioxide," the company points out that as many technology companies plan to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of this decade, decarbonization solutions will become a top priority. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) models, including ChatGPT, are capable of responding to prompts and generating their own text, images, and audio. It is not surprising that this consumes a significant amount of energy. Data centers are buildings used to house the physical computer systems required to run AI. Regarding generative AI and carbon emissions, the report highlights what? The construction of new facilities to accommodate AI is one of the main contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. In addition to the massive electricity required to power all these facilities, the emissions from these centers could reach 2.5 billion tons by the end of the 2020s. The study also points out that by 2030, the annual emissions from data centers will reach 600 million tons, three times the estimated 200 million tons for this year. These predictions are based on the rapid growth and increased demand for generative AI technology in recent years. Tech giants, including Meta, Apple, and Google, are following the success of startups like Anthropic and OpenAI. Investment shows no signs of slowing down, and the manufacturer of ChatGPT may be valued at over $100 billion after a new round of financing. Morgan Stanley's report targets individuals interested in sustainable solutions investment. It emphasizes the opportunities for carbon capture and removal in the industry. According to the research, an investment of $15 billion to $45 billion may be required.