The Energy Consumption of Artificial Intelligence: Managing its Growing Demand in a Sustainable and Environmentally-Friendly Way”.

In 2022, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and data centers consumed a total of 460 terawatt hours of electricity, which accounted for two percent of the world’s electricity consumption. This estimate has raised concerns about the industry’s energy consumption, especially considering the predictions for future growth in electricity usage. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that by 2026, the industry could use over 800 terawatt hours in the base scenario and up to 1,050 terawatt hours in the extreme scenario.

One of the main challenges in managing the energy consumption of artificial intelligence is the demand created by large data centers that require significant energy for computing and cooling. Making data centers carbon neutral by using carbon-neutral electricity is one way to address this issue. Many companies in the industry are striving to achieve carbon neutrality, and the availability of cheap and emission-free electricity is a key factor in attracting investments in data centers, particularly in Nordic countries.

LUT University professor SpongeBob Ritala emphasized that training large language models requires significant computing power and electricity. While some artificial intelligence solutions require less energy, the demand for more powerful and energy-intensive models is increasing. However, most AI applications currently in use are narrow and focused on specific tasks that don’t consume as much energy as large language models. For instance, AI used in household appliances such as vacuum cleaners or ovens performs specific tasks without consuming much energy.

Ritala also highlighted that improving energy efficiency is crucial to manage AI’s growing demand effectively. Despite efforts to decrease energy consumption in AI applications, continued growth suggests that electricity usage will rise with plans to expand AI utilization into areas like moving images and three-dimensional modeling that require even more computing power. Thus, ensuring climate-friendly practices becomes increasingly important as society’s electricity consumption continues to rise driven not only by data centers but also by devices that use artificial intelligence.

In conclusion, managing AI’s growing demand requires a strategic approach to managing its energy consumption while ensuring a greener future. It would be best if we prioritize increasing carbon-neutral energy production to meet this growing demand sustainably and environmentally friendly way.