In its 2024 Environmental Report, Google notes that emissions stemming from energy consumption at the firm have increased 13 percent year-on-year.As such, Google says reducing emissions while it pursues AI will be challenging.
In fact, Google goes on to argue that the definition of “net zero” is really constantly in flux and that may mean something different in a few years. Right now the definition of net zero means balancing out emissions with removals over a specified period. We don’t see how that changes but we also don’t have the power to just change definitions companies like Google does.
There are growing concerns that the computing requirements of AI are placing strain on already strained electricity grids. An analyst at Goldman Sachs toldWhile renewable energy is a way to address this demand, it’s a complex process especially when you consider the scale of the demand, the solution gets a bit more murky.but it needed to negotiate with Eskom to wheel that power to its facilities through the utility’s infrastructure.