Experts emphasize the importance of high-tech companies reporting energy and water consumption in their data centers to prevent irreversible harm to the environment due to the rapid growth of AI, according to a report by the National Center for Engineering Policy (NEPC).
The report urges the UK government to mandate tech companies to disclose essential data on energy, water, and carbon emissions, creating conditions for data centers to be more resource-efficient.
The NEPC Working Group member, Nottingham, noted that the fast-paced advancement of AI systems often neglects resource efficiency, posing a significant environmental risk.
Companies like Google and Microsoft have reported significant increases in water consumption in their data centers, highlighting the need for transparency and sustainable practices in the industry.
To address the issue, the government must collect comprehensive data on resource usage to implement effective policies to reduce energy consumption.
It is crucial to monitor the environmental impact of AI and develop strategies for sustainable AI development, deployment, and utilization.
The NEPC report offers recommendations for policymakers, including expanding environmental reporting requirements, disclosing the environmental impact of AI systems, setting sustainability standards for data centers, and reevaluating data management practices.
Professor Salvaparri Ramchurn from the University of Southampton stresses the need for AI providers to be transparent about the environmental costs of their services and systems to facilitate national discussions on sustainability.
Source: www.theguardian.com
