How CIOs Can Reduce AI's Negative Environmental Impact
Sustainability and ESG, Friday, February 7th, 2025
AI's energy consumption is skyrocketing, with mounting research that large-scale AI models consume immense amounts of power.
A ChatGPT query needs almost 10 times more electricity than a Google search, according to Goldman Sachs research. And, by 2030, AI will drive a 160% increase in data center energy demands.
And a 2023 study from Hugging Face and Carnegie Mellon University estimated that generating an AI image can use as much electricity as charging your smartphone.
These are important considerations since the AI adoption curve is only beginning. As adoption accelerates and AI models grow in complexity, CIOs and other tech leaders must proactively mitigate AI's environmental consequences.
This article examines the growing carbon footprint of AI, encouraging trends that offset AI's carbon footprint, how IT leaders can foster AI energy efficiency, and AI's sustainability and future.