{"id":101132,"date":"2024-09-11T07:31:26","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T06:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cloudcomputing-news.net\/?p=101132"},"modified":"2025-04-23T08:57:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T07:57:13","slug":"gen-ai-surge-threatens-global-emissions-targets-sas-report-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cloudcomputing-news.net\/news\/gen-ai-surge-threatens-global-emissions-targets-sas-report-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"Gen AI surge threatens global emissions targets, SAS report warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The exponential growth of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) could derail global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, potentially consuming as much energy as entire countries, according to a new report from SAS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, ‘Rethinking data and AI in the cloud: How to move to a sustainable future<\/a>,’ emphasised how senior decision-makers in large organisations are grappling with dual challenges: harnessing data and AI on an ever-increasing scale while urgently reducing carbon emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put the challenge into perspective, according to official figures, Ireland’s energy-hungry data centres consumed more electricity last year than all of its urban homes combined. In its report, SAS also suggests that if Google were to power its entire search engine operations using AI, it would require as much electricity as is needed to power the Republic of Ireland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other experts have warned that the AI industry could consume the same energy as the Netherlands by 2027 unless growth slows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry Williams, chief environmental officer, SAS, said:\u00a0“Organisations often think that environmental responsibility is primarily a cloud vendor obligation, but the truth is, it’s a shared responsibility.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Greater efficiency in AI model development, made possible by the availability of data and AI platforms that are optimised to run in the cloud, will also help teams to reduce unnecessary duplication and waste and minimise energy consumption.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, drawing on insights from industry experts, highlights the growing problem of data consumption and its environmental impact. Cloud computing, while offering operational efficiencies, significantly contributes to carbon emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovations in data centre design and management by cloud hyperscalers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform are making strides in sustainability. Still, the responsibility extends to the organisations using these services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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