Google emissions up 48% due to AI

[Gyro]

I wonder if that translates to being 48% more useful!

AI drives 48% increase in Google emissions

Google's greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were 48% higher than in 2019, according to its latest environmental report.

The tech giant puts it down to the increasing amounts of energy needed by its data centres, exacerbated by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI).

AI-powered services involve considerably more computer power - and so electricity - than standard online activity, prompting a series of warnings about the technology's environmental impact.

Google's target is to reach net zero emissions by 2030 but it admits that "as we further integrate AI into our products, reducing emissions may be challenging."

In its 2024 Environmental Report,, external Google says it is "due to increasing energy demands from the greater intensity of AI compute."

Data centres are essentially massive collections of computer servers - and AI needs a huge amount of them.

A generative AI system - such as ChatGPT - might use around 33 times more energy than machines running task-specific software, according to a recent study.

...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51yvz51k2xo

[golden_labels]

The remaining 68% goes to stalking humans on the internet. I think I prefer the smortnet emissions.

[SiliconWizard]

If "AI" is instructed to do everything it can to lower "emissions", will it commit "suicide"?
You have 4 hours.

[thm_w]

Well that's disappointing. Its just the emissions that went up by 48% too, so the energy consumption overall would be up by ~100%, since Google has a lot of renewable power. "Overall, Google says about two thirds of its energy is derived from carbon-free sources."

[SiliconWizard]

Well that's disappointing. Its just the emissions that went up by 48% too, so the energy consumption overall would be up by ~100%, since Google has a lot of renewable power. "Overall, Google says about two thirds of its energy is derived from carbon-free sources."

Good point.