Artificial Intelligence Has an Emissions Problem - My TechDecisions

Technology, artificial intelligence and automation are supposed to solve our biggest problems, not create new ones or exacerbate existing issues. Unbeknownst to many, big tech is actually putting a huge burden on the environment. In a study assessing the energy consumption required to train several common large AI models, Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst said artificial intelligence emissions can be over 626,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is about 5 times as much the lifetime emissions of an average car. According to research firm IDC, spending on AI systems is exploding, with the figure expected to hit nearly $98 billion in 2023, more than 3.5 times the $37.5 billion being spent this year. The U.S. is expected to deliver more than half of that spending through the forecast, which will be led by the retail and banking industries, according to IDC.