Net AI Sustainability Footprint Might be Lower, Even if Data Center Footprint is Higher

Nobody knows yet whether higher energy consumption to support artificial intelligence compute operations will ultimately be offset by lower consumption by industries, firms and consumers that use AI to manage their energy footprints. 

But it seems inevitable that AI operations are going to contribute to a significant boost in data center energy requirements. 

source: CNBC 

source: Goldman Sachs

 

source: Goldman Sachs

Still, some researchers expect net gains in energy efficiency and potential greenhouse gas emissions as AI is applied to industries. 

Study	Date	Publisher	Key Conclusions
Revisit the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence	2023	Springer	AI increases energy use, but optimizing energy systems with AI can lead to net emissions reduction. The carbon footprint varies depending on electricity sources.
Will AI Accelerate or Delay the Race to Net-Zero Emissions?	2023	Nature	AI applications in sectors like transportation and energy can reduce global emissions by up to 10%, but data centers' energy use may offset gains if unchecked.
Potential of AI in Reducing Energy and Carbon Emissions	2022	Nature	AI can lower global energy consumption by up to 19% by 2050 through efficiency improvements but needs sustainable practices for data center energy use.
Tackling AI’s Climate Change Problem	2023	MIT Sloan Review	Large AI models contribute significantly to emissions; however, AI-driven optimizations can reduce industrial and operational carbon footprints.
Reduce Carbon and Costs with the Power of AI	2023	BCG	AI helps companies track and reduce emissions, potentially cutting global GHG emissions by 5.3 gigatons by 2030 while improving efficiency.

The point is that it is hard to say whether net increases or decreases in carbon or other footprint will result from wide scale AI usage. More computation means more energy consumption, which increases data center emissions footprint. 

But AI should ultimately enable lower energy consumption by a wide range of industries.