Four young scientists, accompanied by Eskom Expo’s Business Manager, Mmamoloko Rancia Riba, won their place to represent the country at the Indonesia competition, renowned…
The hidden cost of AI
With AI fast taking center stage, companies have grabbed the opportunity to make work more efficient using AI, yet this does come at a cost for AI system developers.
While companies adopt many AI systems in order to streamline operations, increase data analysis, and improve customers engagement, AI does present the challenging issue of energy consumption for data centers that power these technologies.
The latest tech fad does come with the con of consuming large amounts of energy from already stretched power grids.
The concern lies in the question of whether continued growth will be sustained as energy consumption also increases.
According to James Perry from Vew Media, the answer could be in renewable energy sources.
“Could these processes be powered behind the meter and on-site at hydroelectric, wind and solar assets in order to power AI with truly green energy? Could doing so alleviate the energy consumption concerns of AI, while also providing energy companies a new and extremely profitable means of revenue generation?”
AI development and training require significant computing power, which traditionally relies on fossil fuels. Shifting to renewables like solar, wind, and geothermal energy can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of AI operations.
Renewable energy sources often have lower long-term operational costs compared to fossil fuels.
As AI infrastructure scales, renewable energy can offer a more sustainable and cost-effective way to power it.
Integrating renewable energy sources can help diversify the energy grid and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices. This could ensure a more reliable and stable supply for AI systems minimizing disruptions.
By adopting renewable energy, AI companies can demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility.
By minimizing its environmental impact, AI can continue to revolutionize various aspects of our lives without compromising the well-being of the planet.
Also read: Huawei introduces the Huawei Nova 12i, Nova SE and Nova 12S
