The Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence

The Positive and Negative Effects of AI

Since AI hit the mainstream in the last few years, industries across the world are feeling the positive impacts. From helping humanity to clean up our oceans to helping doctors to detect cancers earlier than ever before, AI’s potential and impact are growing by the day.

The Growing Concerns

Regardless of whether this is being powered via a supercomputer, edge computing methods, or a traditional data centre, society is truly feeling the positive effect of advances in the AI industry. However, with fresh innovation has always come questions around environmental impact. These concerns are gaining momentum, especially around the energy consumption associated with the increased processing power required to run increasingly large systems.

The Environmental Impact of AI

The United Nations Environment Programme recently expressed concerns about the rising levels of e-waste and cooling considerations for data centres more specifically. This also follows on from similar concerns from academia, who have flagged that a larger carbon footprint might be the price we are paying for innovation.

Government Regulations and Initiatives

Add on top of this the fact that governments globally are implementing new regulations and reporting requirements as part of initiatives to curb the impact of climate change, such as the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), and it becomes clear this issue is coming to the forefront of the AI agenda.

The Focus on Sustainability

Analysts around the globe are also beginning to focus on this, with Gartner naming energy-efficient computing as a top technology trend for 2025, as organisations come under pressure to show they are considering the impact AI is having on the environment.

The Importance of Sustainability

Businesses that are not considering sustainability as part of core AI infrastructure and expansion or technology strategies are at risk of hindering their own progress. Failing to keep pace with sustainable practices can cause reputational damage, as organisations may be seen as behind the curve in an increasingly sustainability-focused world, alongside risking non-compliance with regulation.

The Benefits of Sustainable AI

When looking at the previously mentioned example of e-waste, if organisations are found to be not properly recycling devices, they could face negative feedback and lose business as a result of poor brand image. With these factors in mind, it’s clear that businesses must consider building a sustainable AI framework that supports operational efficiency, encouraging business growth.

Prioritizing Sustainability

Prioritizing the implementation of technologies that limit energy consumption can be a huge help when it comes to ensuring regulatory compliance and the ability to meet greater sustainability goals. These also come with the ability to help organisations to future-proof against market instability with reduced reliance on energy along with strengthening brand reputation in an increasingly environmentally-conscious world.

Real-World Solutions

This is within easy reach for many businesses as there is a large number of offerings in the market that can balance sustainability efforts, with high processing capabilities. At ASUS we have partnered with Intel to provide servers that prioritise energy efficiency. There is so much available to businesses today if they choose to take the initial step and consider a strategy to implement technologies which balance regulatory pressures, customer expectations, and overall business goals will help organisations to feel confident innovation won’t come at a cost to the environment.

The Future of Sustainable AI

IDC has raised this with its audience, recently releasing predictions on the technology industry which outlined; “To address the environmental challenges of harnessing AI’s benefits, enterprises are turning to Sustainable AI Frameworks that focus on minimising the environmental impact of artificial intelligence by addressing key elements such as energy efficiency, resource optimisation, and e-waste reduction.”

The Consequences of Not Embracing Sustainability

As AI innovation continues to grow, alongside market pressure, businesses will find it becomes clear which organisations within the market are able to cope, and which will be left behind. Ultimately, those who choose to embed sustainability into AI strategies will lead the way.

Conclusion

The environmental impact of AI is a growing concern that cannot be ignored. As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential that businesses prioritize sustainability and implement strategies that balance regulatory pressures, customer expectations, and overall business goals. By doing so, organisations can ensure that innovation doesn’t come at a cost to the environment and future-proof against market instability.

See Also

• French initiative for responsible AI leaders
• AI & Big Data Expo