A new report by the University of Cambridge warned that the United Kingdom's urge to lead to Ki derailed its climate goals – unless urgent measures are taken.
According to the Minkeroo Center for Technology and Democracy at the University, the non-matching AI could increase 25 times an increase in global tech-sector energy consumption by 2040, causing the power grids to be massively stressed and carbon emissions accelerated.
Even the most conservative scenario points to a five -fold increase over the next 15 years. The authors of the report claim that it is “magical thinking at the highest level” to assume that countries like the United Kingdom can lead to AI and at the same time achieve the goals to achieve net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
At the moment, data centers are already accounting for almost 1.5% of global emissions, but this number could increase to 8% by 2040 and exceed those of air travel, according to the report. In some countries, the computer performance makes up a larger energy share. In Ireland, data centers are responsible for up to 20% of electricity consumption, for example.
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Despite Big Tech's climate promises, the emissions of the sector rose quickly. Google and Microsoft According to the report, carbon emissions have increased by 51% and 41% since 2019. In the newspaper, however, it is emphasized that the actual footprint is probably higher due to the limited transparency of Big Tech. Inconsistent emission accountingAnd a lack of independent audits to check the claims of these companies.
“We know that the environmental impact of AI will be impressive, but tech giants are deliberately vague about the energy needs that are implied in their goals,” said Bhargav Srinivasa Desika, the main author of the report and a AI expert.
“We have to see urgent measures of governments to prevent the derailment of climate goals, not only to postpone the promise of economic growth,” he continued.
British Prime Minister Keir Starrer has introduced the red carpet for AI companies in the past few months.
In January, AI data center of the builders Vantage Data Centers, NSCALE and KYNDRYL promised a combined AI infrastructure across the country. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blackstone and Coreweave invest billions in a spacious new data center campus Nvidia Recently in cooperation with local companies to end the Great Britain's computing capacity.
Overall, Great Britain positions itself as a global hub for AI. However, the report warns that it is missing. It calls for the British Energy Agency Ofgem to collect data centers strict energy efficiency goals, and thus connect AI financing to clean electricity consumption.
The researchers also criticized the Great Britain New AI Energy Council For the exclusion of civil society votes. “The Council currently consists exclusively of energy settings and technology companies,” says the report.
Professor John Naughton, chairman of the Messeroo Center's consulting committee, called for greater transparency about the effects of AI. “Every megawatt that is assigned to the AI calculation centers is a megawatts that is not available for apartments or production,” he said. “Governments must be received by the public about the inevitable energy improvements that will go hand in hand with the doubling of AI as the motor of economic growth.”
