Uncertainty ahead
The headline to the AI section of the report is ‘Boldly accelerating climate action with AI’. But within the section, there is a brutal reality to the words.
It says: “In 2023, our total data centre electricity consumption grew 17%, despite maintaining a 100% global renewable energy match.
“As Google’s infrastructure continues to power the digital transition, providing numerous economic benefits across the globe, we expect this trend to continue in the future.
“But we see our growing infrastructure as an opportunity to drive the innovations and investments needed to power a low-carbon economy.”
It said predicting the future environmental impact of AI is “complex and evolving”, adding: “Our historical trends likely don’t fully capture AI’s future trajectory.
“AI is at an inflection point and many factors will influence its ultimate impact – including the extent of AI adoption, our ability to mitigate its footprint and the pace of continued innovation and efficiency.”
It poses a challenge to global business and political leaders: “Additionally, system-level changes are needed to address challenges such as grid decarbonisation, evolving regulations, hard-to-decarbonise industries and the availability of carbon-free energy.
“While we remain optimistic about AI’s potential to drive positive change, we’re also clear-eyed about its potential environmental impact and the collaborative effort required to navigate this evolving landscape.”