The exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses a significant threat to the energy industry, economy, and climate. Recent reports indicate that the carbon emissions of tech giant Google have surged due to the increased energy consumption associated with AI-powered services. According to scientists at Cornell University, generative AI systems like ChatGPT consume up to 33 times more energy than computers running task-specific software. Furthermore, each AI-powered internet query consumes approximately ten times more energy than traditional internet searches.
This surge in power consumption as AI gains momentum directly challenges the tech sector’s commitment to decarbonization. While Google remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, the company acknowledges the challenges of reducing emissions as AI integration into their products intensifies. Alarmingly, the global AI sector is projected to account for a significant portion of the world’s electricity consumption by 2030. In the United States alone, data centers are expected to double their electricity consumption, posing a threat to national energy security and the economy.
The implications of this rapid growth are staggering. The combination of AI and electric vehicles is estimated to add 290 terawatt hours of electricity demand to the U.S. energy grid by the end of the decade, equivalent to the energy consumption of Turkey, the world’s 18th largest economy. To meet these escalating demands, the United States must rapidly expand its energy production capacity, or risk severe energy shortages. The burden of this expansion will likely fall on the American public, leading to soaring energy bills.
The issue at hand is primarily a tech sector problem rather than a consumer behavior issue. Electricity prices are already on the rise, and projections from the Bank of America Institute suggest that growth rates will continue unabated. Failure to meet the surging demands of AI and related sectors could hinder economic growth, a concern acknowledged by major tech companies such as Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta. These companies are actively seeking increased energy supply to support their expanding data centers, often requiring gigawatts of electricity.
While some tech giants are exploring renewable energy sources and nuclear fusion research as potential solutions, no single power source can fully address the energy demands driven by AI, electric vehicles, and related sectors. The challenge lies in striking a balance between meeting these demands and ensuring efficiency and emissions reduction. The Department of Energy has cautioned that an overreliance on AI in “smart grids” could have unintended consequences.