It is undeniable that we, as a society, have benefited significantly from the use and functions of AI - but at what cost? As humanity develops, so does our technology and way of life. We heavily rely on the use of technology, especially artificial intelligence. Sometimes it may not be so obvious; from face recognition, GPS to digital assistants, AI is deeply rooted in our society and it has been for a long time.
How does AI impact our environment?
Like many great inventions, it often comes at a price. AI uses a lot of energy; it requires a substantial amount of computing power and electricity. Research shows that by 2027, the AI sector could be consuming 85-134 terawatt hours each year. To put that into perspective, that is around the same annual energy used by the Netherlands. AIs carbon emissions could put even more strain on our climate. Furthermore AI contributes to electronic waste; E-waste is composed of hazardous chemicals, including lead, mercury and cadmium. If the e-waste is left unchecked and not properly disposed of it could pollute soil and water reserves which could pose risks to peoples health, animals and our environment.
Can AI be used to restore our environment?
Although it is quite evident that AI has a huge negative impact on our environment, it could potentially help restore it. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 4 billion people are currently living in areas that are more susceptible to climate change. AI is currently being used to help tackle climate change in various ways, one of them being tracking where waste is in our oceans. This is done by AI creating comprehensive maps of where the waste is, making the clean up process far more efficient and quicker. A company in Brazil called Sipremo is also using AI to make predictions on when disasters, caused by climate change, will happen and what type of climate disaster it will be.
How can we mitigate AIs negative impacts on our planet?
Proper e-waste management and recyling
Invest into more renewable energy to power AI
Optimize hardware usage
AI is not going anywhere anytime soon making it even more crucial for corporations and governments to act fast on making AI more sustainable.
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