Hot Stuff — Can AI Burn Past Its Own Energy Consumption Issues?

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT have captured the world’s attention, with many people using it for writing and graphic design projects.

But a substantial amount of energy is used to run the generative AI algorithms — five times more than a regular search engine inquiry, according to a recent report from real estate firm JLL. Training OpenAI’s ChatGPT took the same amount of energy as driving 123 combustion vehicles for a year.

Similar Web reported nearly 2 billion AI queries on ChatGPT in May, boosting the amount of heat radiating from data centers.

“Data center futureproofing and sustainability are inextricably linked,” said Colm Shorten, JLL’s senior director for Data Center Global Strategy & Innovation. “We’re trying to satisfy a need for increased data processing, speed and efficiency with an eye on the future sustainability roadmap — despite the two things pulling in opposite directions.”

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AI isn’t the only reason data centers are an energy suck. About 40% of the energy consumed in data centers comes from the air-cooling process necessary to prevent hardware and racks from overheating. AI only adds to the problem.

“New chips used to power faster machines for processing AI data run significantly hotter and present a challenge for conventional air-cooling solutions,” JLL Data Center Research Lead Daniel Thorpe said. “Keeping temperatures down will mean a shift to liquid cooling.”

But AI also could be the key to fixing the issue because it can provide predictability and data center efficiency with dynamic workload management. In some instances, AI can integrate renewable energy sources to manage the balance between renewable energy supply and data center workloads, which would maximize clean energy use and minimize reliance on fossil fuels.

“Data centers have and will continue to embrace AI for driving improved performance and operational efficiency in their facilities,” Shorten said.

Corporate America has been embracing environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, and developing carbon-neutral buildings is key to solving the climate crisis. About 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the built environment, and investors are increasing their focus on ESG strategies such as powering buildings with renewable energy.

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Both the Nasdaq Stock Market and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued greenhouse gas emissions guidelines. Although neither are requirements yet, 90% of S&P 500 companies put out sustainability reports in 2019, up from 20% in 0211.

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