The electrical power required for one AI (Artificial Intelligence) data center will use more energy than two Pittsburghs. More specifically, an AI data center will consume more electricity than 600,000 U.S. citizens. New AI data centers will consume even more electricity, as they will be even bigger than today’s.
The power required to run 20 AI data centers is the equivalent of the electricity needed by 12 million people. This is the equivalent of the populations of Utah, Nevada and Colorado. Today there are over 5,100 data centers in the world, which require the equivalent electricity needed by 3 billion people. There are 8.2 billion people in the world today.
How do we want to prioritize our use of energy? What would AI tell us to do? Specifically, what would it tell us to do that would best benefit humanity?
- Invest more in fossil fuel energy to drive AI?
- Use less AI and other big data business practices designed to sell more stuff?
- Require that all AI data centers be powered by clean energy?
Reuters reports that “Data-center reliance on fossil fuels may delay clean-energy transition.” And that the AI industry knows this. We should know this as well.
No doubt AI will be part of humans finding a solution through initiatives like Cleanai and the Cleantech Group. Many AI providers are working diligently to drive clean energy solutions for their massive needs.
So what would AI tell us to do in the best interest of humanity? Maybe we should not depend on AI to provide this answer. Maybe we should demand our local, state and national leaders to contemplate the risks and benefits and start doing more things that are right for us and not just for tech businesses.
Andrew Watt
Sandy