In the adoption of new technology, there has always been the need for tradeoffs. For every opportunity, there has been a cost, a need to achieve the good by understanding the bad. The early computers offered efficiency, but they raised fears of depersonalization; PCs threatened IT security; the internet connected the world but enabled cybercrime. In the end, nobody wanted to go back to typewriters, rotary dial phones, and adding machines.
Somehow humanity has found ways to balance the negative and positive side of each emerging technology. Today, artificial intelligence offers a prime example of the good/bad, plus/minus equation. AI promises to make work easier, cure diseases and solve global problems. Yet, we know about the risks: Biased data, lack of transparency, loss of jobs, and more.
Recently, a new concern has emerged: AI models require so much electrical power that the energy demand seems ready to bring down the global grids. The irony is that some experts say AI actually has the potential to help achieve greater sustainability by finding answers to multiple energy issues.
We recently launched a special report on this topic in which we investigated the thorny issues surrounding the true cost of AI. For example, what’s the price tag CIOs have to pay in the short term and what’s the cost to their business — and to society — in the long-term?
And over the past year or so, InformationWeek writers have examined the energy dilemma that AI raises. The articles in this Quick Study share the thoughts of key experts in the AI and energy fields. They can help you and your IT organization understand the two sides of the AI energy issues.
The Problem
Confronting the AI Energy Drain
Artificial intelligence technology is working its way into nearly every aspect of modern life. But what are the energy costs? Can they be reduced?
The energy needed to train AI models is draining the power grid. But AI may also be key to sustainable energy management.
AI Driving Data Center Energy Appetite
As organizations scramble to integrate AI platforms into their businesses, the impact on data center energy requirements is skyrocketing, with future demand certain to rise.
Will Future AI Demands Derail Sustainable Energy Initiatives?
As AI use grows, so will its energy demands. How will power-hungry AI deployments affect sustainable energy initiatives?
Pulling Back the Curtain: The Infrastructure Behind the Magic of AI
Here’s a look at the “magic” behind artificial intelligence development, which requires density in design, strategic land selection, and power availability.
Possible Solutions
AI, Data Centers, and Energy Use: The Path to Sustainability
The increasing use of AI and data centers is leading to a surge in energy consumption, posing risks for energy, tech, and data companies. It also presents an opportunity for these companies to decarbonize, build trust, and reduce long-term costs.
Accenture Makes $1B AI Power Play with Udacity Purchase
The company will use Udacity to build out its LearnVantage business to focus on AI-fueled technology training.
Supercharging AI With the Power of Quantum Computing
How can we supercharge artificial intelligence? Through the power of quantum computing and its potential to pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient future with AI.
Clean, Lean Data Is the Cornerstone of AI Sustainability
Messy data is making AI inefficient and hampering its sustainability. So why aren’t more organizations doing a better job of optimizing their data for AI?
Sustainable AI: Wishful Thinking or Corporate Imperative?
With the increasingly popular use of AI in the enterprise, it becomes crucial to ensure that these technologies are harnessed in a climate-neutral way.
Infrastructure Sustainability and the Data Center Power Dilemma
Microsoft’s plan to tap into a reactor at Three Mile Island to power data centers fuels questions about how far our voracious appetite for energy might go.
A Sustainability Spin to the Issue
How AI Impacts Sustainability Opportunities and Risks
AI can be used to drive sustainability initiatives, yet the technology itself has an environmental cost. How can we strike a balance?
AI and the War Against Plastic Waste
Plastic waste is one of today’s most complex environmental challenges, and people are putting AI to work to understand it and solve it.
Embracing AI for Competitive Edge and Social Impact
AI is revolutionizing business by enhancing operational efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness, while also addressing global challenges like healthcare and sustainability. It enables companies to thrive while contributing to broader societal impact.
AI Will Make Cars and Trucks Smarter, Faster, and Safer
AI promises to revolutionize driving. Here’s a look at what’s coming down the road, and how AI can help make cars safer and more energy efficient.
SAP’s Sophia Mendelsohn on Using AI to Scale Sustainability
How GenAI can be put to work to free up ESG professionals and connect the dots on resource planning within the enterprise.