Inspiring Tech Leaders - The Impact of AI on Sustainability

In this episode of the Inspiring Tech Leaders podcast, I dive into the topic of how Artificial intelligence is both transforming but also impacting the sustainability landscape.  From climate modelling and resource management to the reduction of carbon footprints and the circular economy, AI is reshaping how we think about the future of our planet.

If the topics of AI and Sustainability interest you, then this episode will provide you with insight to both the challenges and benefits that are being driven by technology.

Please let me know what other technology topics you would like to see covered in future episodes of the podcast and remember to subscribe and stay tuned for more Inspiring Tech Leaders.

Transcript

Welcome to the Inspiring Tech Leaders podcast, with me Dave Roberts.

In this episode I’m going to dive into the topic of how Artificial intelligence is both transforming but also impacting the sustainability landscape.  From climate modelling and resource management to the reduction of carbon footprints and the circular economy, AI is reshaping how we think about the future of our planet.

But what does AI really mean for sustainability, when we need consider optimising everything from energy consumption to predicting environmental changes.  AI’s ability to analyse massive amounts of data in real time means we can now track environmental changes more accurately and develop strategies to mitigate them more effectively.

AI has revolutionized how we approach data collection and analysis from an environmental science perspective.  With AI-powered sensors, for instance, we can gather real-time data on everything from deforestation rates to ocean pollution.  Machine learning then analyses this data to predict trends, which allows us to intervene before issues escalate.  AI is therefore providing environmental scientists with better tools to help predict changes, allowing us to provider quicker responses and implement mitigation steps.

One of the most direct impacts of AI on sustainability is in the field of renewable energy.  Renewable sources like wind and solar are inherently variable, for example when the sun doesn’t shine, or the wind doesn’t blow.  AI plays a pivotal role in predicting these fluctuations and optimising energy grids to ensure we maximize renewable resources.

AI Algorithms can help predict weather patterns with incredible accuracy, so we know when and where energy will be available.  Additionally, AI optimises energy storage, ensuring that excess energy produced during peak times is stored and used efficiently.  This is allowing the creation of a smarter grid, where AI manages supply and demand in real-time.

The circular economy is a growing area of interest in sustainability, and AI is playing a key role here too.  In the traditional economy, products are made, used, and then discarded.  In a circular economy, materials and products are kept in use for as long as possible, reducing waste and promoting recycling.  AI is being used to design products that last longer and are easier to recycle.

AI is also helping to analyse the lifecycle of products, predicating when they might fail, and suggesting ways to refurbish or recycle them.  It is helping to optimise supply chains, reducing waste and ensuring that materials are reused efficiently.  This kind of predicative insight allows businesses to shift from a throwaway model to a repair and reuse model.

Agriculture is another sector where AI is making strides in sustainability.  With the global population set to hit 9.7 billion by 2050, we need to grow more food on less land, all while reducing the environmental impact of farming.  AI is helping farmers monitor crops more precisely, optimise water usage, and reduce chemical inputs, leading to more sustainable practises.

AI driven technologies combined with drones and sensors can monitor crop health, soil quality, and weather conditions in real-time.  This data helps farmers make better decisions, such as when and how much to irrigate or apply fertilizer, which helps to produce higher yields with fewer resources.  AI is also helping Farmers on the best time to plant and harvest, based on weather patterns.

AI’s ability to process and analyse vast amounts of data is essential in the fight against climate change.  From improving climate models to simulating future scenarios, AI provides critical insights for policymakers and scientists to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

However, AI comes with its own set of challenges and ethical considerations, especially when it comes to sustainability.  One key concern is the environmental cost of running AI systems themselves.  Data centres that power AI require significant energy, and if they aren’t run on renewable energy, they can contribute to the very problem AI is trying to solve.

For example, it’s estimated that a query executed via an AI Chatbot, can in some cases take between 10 to 25 times more electricity than a traditional web search, which as a result could see significant increase in carbon emissions from datacentres.

The rapid growth and popularity of generative AI technologies, requires a lot of energy when training a large language model.  If this technology is integrated into the 9 billion or so searches conducted each day, then it’s clear to see the massive impact that this technology will have and its contribution to energy consumption across the globe.  It’s estimated that our data centre usage is around 500 terawatt hours and in the next couple of years could reach a petawatt, equivalent to the energy demands of Germany as a nation.

If AI solutions are primarily developed and deployed in wealthy nations, we risk leaving developing countries behind.  Many developing nations lack access to the necessary hardware, high-speed internet, and cloud computing systems required for AI development.  

The skills gap and brain drain further limit the ability for developing countries to engage in AI innovation, while wealthier nations continue to benefit from the economic gains of AI driven industries.  This growing divide could exacerbate global inequalities, with developing countries coming increasingly dependent on foreign technologies.

Developing countries could also face exclusion from global AI governance, limiting their influence on AI policies and standards that impact them.

 Without access to data and AI resources, these nations may miss opportunities to leverage AI for addressing critical challenges such as healthcare, education, and climate resilience.  To mitigate this divide, investments in infrastructure, education and inclusive AI governance are essentials to ensure the benefits of AI are shared more equitably.

If we are to minimize the climate impact of AI, companies need to adopt more sustainable practices. This includes using smaller AI models or perhaps foundation models instead of building from scratch to save time, data and energy.  It’s also important to use the right infrastructure, so selecting energy efficient processors can reduce cooling requirements.  Selecting renewable energy sources like geothermal data centres, also helps to reducing the impact of AI.  The push for sustainability is driven by regulators, investors, customers, and employees, who are increasingly concerned about the environmental footprint of AI.

With increasing regulations from the EU and US, companies will soon be required to disclose information about their AI usage. Despite the push for sustainability, unfortunately the allure of significant AI advancements often overshadows environmental concerns, and this is something we must address. 

Unfortunately, there are many prominent tech companies that are now struggling to meet their net-zero deadlines due to the impacts of demand for AI.  So, AI is both helping but also contributing to the climate change challenges that we face today. 

I believe that Technology is the way that we address these challenges but we have to consider how we achieve sustainability at a macro level.  I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Inspiring Tech Leaders podcast and stay tuned for more episodes where we’ll continue to explore the incredible ways in which technology is influencing and changing our lives.