AI's surging power use raises environmental concerns

As global energy demands soar, the explosive growth of AI technology presents significant sustainability challenges.

Elizabeth Kolbert reports for The New Yorker.

In short:

• Alex de Vries highlighted the alarming energy consumption of Bitcoin and has now turned his attention to AI's environmental impact.
• De Vries's estimates show integrating generative AI into Google's searches could significantly increase its energy usage.
• The current trajectory of AI technology suggests a stark contrast with global goals of achieving net-zero emissions.

Key quote:

“I was, like, O.K., that’s a massive amount, and why is no one talking about it? I tried to look up some data, but I couldn’t really find anything.”

— Alex de Vries

Why this matters:

Understanding the environmental toll of advancing AI is crucial for health outcomes as it intersects with national efforts to mitigate climate change and shape sustainable technologies.

For big emissions reductions, we need to think small.