Despite its high environmental costs, AI could also help save the planet

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has greatly increased electricity and water consumption, raising concerns about the technology’s environmental footprint and carbon emissions. But the story is more complicated.

I study new technologies and how their development and deployment influence economic, institutional and societal outcomes, including environmental sustainability. From my research, I see that AI, even though it consumes a lot of energy, can make systems cleaner and smarter.

AI is already helping to save energy and water, reduce emissions, and make businesses in agriculture, data centers, energy, building heating and cooling, and aviation more efficient.

agriculture

Agriculture is responsible for almost 70% of global freshwater consumption