Generative AI is reportedly tripling carbon dioxide emissions from data centers - eviltoast

A report from Morgan Stanley suggests the datacenter industry is on track to emit 2.5 billion tons by 2030, which is three times higher than the predictions if generative AI had not come into play.

  • 9point6@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    Well given the targets still exist, surely this has to result in greater investment in renewable energy sources?

    Like no one sensible is gonna let them get away with “Welp, we can’t do net-zero now because AI” when there’s the simple solution of building more renewable energy sources.

    • voidx@futurology.todayOPM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      3 months ago

      It’d be great if AI is powered entirely by renewables, but how trustworthy is that target?

      Companies and politicians are known to drag their feet switching to renewables or use greenwashing to show they care more about climate than they actually do.

    • Hirom@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Before considering a ban, we should start by fairly taxing flights and burning of fossil fuel in general. That would include closing the loophole that makes plane ticket and plane fuel exempt of taxes. And of course a carbon tax.

      That’d be probably enough to significantly reduce pollution from flights and data centers.

  • sartalon@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    “A report from Morgan Stanley”

    This reads like they are shooting from the hip this just like McKinsey.

    Morgan Stanley is an investment company. So this was written for a purpose, with a predetermined outcome.