The rise of artificial intelligence offers potential advancements in clean energy, though the massive energy consumption required to operate generative AI raises concerns about its impact on the environment. A panel of experts from leading technology and energy companies came together at Newsweek headquarters to discuss whether AI is a climate hero or villain. The event, part of Newsweek’s new Horizons series, took place during Climate Week in New York City and featured panelists from Microsoft, Bezos Earth Fund, Salesforce, Duke Energy, and MIT.
The panel discussion focused on how the benefits of AI-assisted breakthroughs could counteract the energy demands needed to generate them. Recent studies have shown that data center power usage could potentially consume up to 9 percent of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. Despite these concerns, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressed confidence that the country would be able to meet the energy needs related to AI. The panel explored the complex relationship between AI and the climate, considering the environmental costs in terms of energy consumption, water usage, and social justice, among other factors.
Microsoft’s Vice President of Energy, Bobby Hollis, referred to AI as a hero in relation to climate change. However, Microsoft’s sustainability report revealed that the company’s aggregate emissions had increased by 29 percent compared to 2020 due to the expansion of data centers powering AI. To address this challenge, Microsoft recently entered into an agreement with an electric utility company to provide its data centers with nuclear power, emphasizing the need for carbon-free energy to support AI initiatives.
Bezos Earth Fund Director of AI and Data Strategies, Amen Ra Mashariki, highlighted the organization’s focus on using data to solve complex environmental issues by leveraging AI technology. Salesforce’s Executive Vice President & Chief Impact Officer, Suzanne DiBianca, discussed the company’s stakeholder capitalism strategy and emphasized the importance of balancing AI’s benefits with its environmental costs. Duke Energy’s Managing Director, ESG & Sustainability, Heather Quinley, shared insights on how AI has helped the company improve efficiency but also pointed out the increased energy demands associated with the growth of AI.
MIT assistant professor Priya Donti, who co-founded the research group Climate Change AI, emphasized that AI itself is not inherently a hero or villain in terms of its impact on the environment. She stressed the importance of transparency from tech companies to fully understand the energy consumption of AI models. Legislation proposed by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey calls for additional disclosure to address this issue. The panelists agreed that further transparency and data sharing are essential in order to fully assess and mitigate the environmental impact of AI on climate change.
