Sustainable AI?

Question

Sustainable AI?

Lars Paisley 20

Are there any methodologies that may be applied that can make the use of AI on any task, sustainable in a energy consumption and CO2 emission perspective?

Vikram Singh 2,585 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-01-07T09:59:07.01+00:00
Hello Lars

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum, Thank you for posting your question here!

To ensure sustainable AI, Microsoft employs several strategies focusing on reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions:

Renewable Energy: Microsoft powers its data centers with renewable energy to reduce carbon footprints and aims to be carbon-negative by 2030.

Energy-Efficient Data Centers: The company optimizes cooling systems and hardware to improve data center efficiency, reducing energy use and emissions.

AI for Environmental Monitoring: AI is used to track and optimize energy consumption and emissions across operations.

Sustainable AI Research: Microsoft collaborates on research to develop methods for reducing the environmental impact of AI models during training and deployment.

By adopting these methodologies, organizations can develop and deploy AI systems that are more sustainable, reducing their environmental impact and promoting a greener future for artificial intelligence. These efforts align with Microsoft's broader sustainability goals, reducing both energy usage and CO₂ emissions in AI applications.

For more info, please refer to:

Microsoft AI for Earth: https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/ai-for-earth-helping-save-the-planet-with-data-science/

Microsoft Sustainability: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/sustainability

I hope this comprehensive response addresses your query effectively.
Lars Paisley 20 Reputation points

2025-01-07T10:30:30.6533333+00:00

Thank you Vikram for your comprehensive answer. My question really is about how to defend AI's rather massive energy consumption: Sourcing the energy from renewable sources as you mention, does not help in any way, as these sources could have been used elsewhere, replacing black energy, if it was not used to fuel AI purposes. In this respect optimising the energy consumption of data centers is a better answer - although this should also happen, whether they house AI workloads or not. I do of course recognise Microsoft's efforts on this.

AI consumes vast amounts of energy and in order to be sustainable, AI should likely only be used for tasks that cannot be solved in less energy consuming/more sustainable ways - and it is this I am looking for methods to asses. How can I approach this problem in my decision making?

Today AI is rather thoughtlessly applied to any task where it may simplify, ease or somehow improve processes or products, without any regards to its unsustainable nature. I want to become better at qualifying - and quantifying, when to use AI and when not. But how?
Vikram Singh 2,585 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-01-08T04:33:00.8966667+00:00

@Lars Paisley : Just following up to check if my suggestion helped. Please let me know if you have any further queries. I would be happy to help. Please do not forget to "Accept the answer” and “up-vote” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.
Lars Paisley 20 Reputation points

2025-01-08T08:54:51.47+00:00

Hi Vikram

Thanks for your elaboration on this. The links are helpful.

I am all new to this forum and not too sure how the interface works, however I see your comments as exactly that: comments, not answers. So at this point I don't believe there is an answer to my original question and therefore (I expect) there is no option for me to accept an answer at this point...

One other thing that struck me: Since we are talking about AI, how do I know that you are a person - and to what extent is your comments generated by an AI? (No offense!)
Vikram Singh 2,585 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-01-08T09:53:51.9766667+00:00

Hi @Lars Paisley Thank you for your response and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your feedback and understand your concerns regarding the clarity of my previous comments.

To address your point, I strive to provide detailed insights and guidance based on my expertise, but I recognize that sometimes it may come across as more of a discussion rather than a direct answer.

Regarding your question about AI, I assure you that I am a real person here to assist you. AI is indeed growing and evolving day by day, and I believe that ultimately, everything comes down to the person or system using it. The purpose for which we are using AI is crucial, as it shapes the outcomes and effectiveness of the technology.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to ask!
Lars Paisley 20 Reputation points

2025-01-08T13:15:49.81+00:00

Thanks Vikram

As this conversation has taken place as comments on my question, I don't see a way to solve or close it. But thank you anyway for your time and for sharing your insights!

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Vikram Singh 2,585 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-01-07T09:59:07.01+00:00

Hello Lars

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum, Thank you for posting your question here!

To ensure sustainable AI, Microsoft employs several strategies focusing on reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions:

Renewable Energy: Microsoft powers its data centers with renewable energy to reduce carbon footprints and aims to be carbon-negative by 2030.

Energy-Efficient Data Centers: The company optimizes cooling systems and hardware to improve data center efficiency, reducing energy use and emissions.

AI for Environmental Monitoring: AI is used to track and optimize energy consumption and emissions across operations.

Sustainable AI Research: Microsoft collaborates on research to develop methods for reducing the environmental impact of AI models during training and deployment.

By adopting these methodologies, organizations can develop and deploy AI systems that are more sustainable, reducing their environmental impact and promoting a greener future for artificial intelligence. These efforts align with Microsoft's broader sustainability goals, reducing both energy usage and CO₂ emissions in AI applications.

For more info, please refer to:

Microsoft AI for Earth: https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/ai-for-earth-helping-save-the-planet-with-data-science/

Microsoft Sustainability: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/sustainability

I hope this comprehensive response addresses your query effectively.
Lars Paisley 20 Reputation points

2025-01-07T10:30:30.6533333+00:00

Thank you Vikram for your comprehensive answer. My question really is about how to defend AI's rather massive energy consumption: Sourcing the energy from renewable sources as you mention, does not help in any way, as these sources could have been used elsewhere, replacing black energy, if it was not used to fuel AI purposes. In this respect optimising the energy consumption of data centers is a better answer - although this should also happen, whether they house AI workloads or not. I do of course recognise Microsoft's efforts on this.

AI consumes vast amounts of energy and in order to be sustainable, AI should likely only be used for tasks that cannot be solved in less energy consuming/more sustainable ways - and it is this I am looking for methods to asses. How can I approach this problem in my decision making?

Today AI is rather thoughtlessly applied to any task where it may simplify, ease or somehow improve processes or products, without any regards to its unsustainable nature. I want to become better at qualifying - and quantifying, when to use AI and when not. But how?
Vikram Singh 2,585 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-01-08T04:33:00.8966667+00:00

@Lars Paisley : Just following up to check if my suggestion helped. Please let me know if you have any further queries. I would be happy to help. Please do not forget to "Accept the answer” and “up-vote” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.
Lars Paisley 20 Reputation points

2025-01-08T08:54:51.47+00:00

Hi Vikram

Thanks for your elaboration on this. The links are helpful.

I am all new to this forum and not too sure how the interface works, however I see your comments as exactly that: comments, not answers. So at this point I don't believe there is an answer to my original question and therefore (I expect) there is no option for me to accept an answer at this point...

One other thing that struck me: Since we are talking about AI, how do I know that you are a person - and to what extent is your comments generated by an AI? (No offense!)
Vikram Singh 2,585 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-01-08T09:53:51.9766667+00:00

Hi @Lars Paisley Thank you for your response and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your feedback and understand your concerns regarding the clarity of my previous comments.

To address your point, I strive to provide detailed insights and guidance based on my expertise, but I recognize that sometimes it may come across as more of a discussion rather than a direct answer.

Regarding your question about AI, I assure you that I am a real person here to assist you. AI is indeed growing and evolving day by day, and I believe that ultimately, everything comes down to the person or system using it. The purpose for which we are using AI is crucial, as it shapes the outcomes and effectiveness of the technology.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to ask!
Lars Paisley 20 Reputation points

2025-01-08T13:15:49.81+00:00

Thanks Vikram

As this conversation has taken place as comments on my question, I don't see a way to solve or close it. But thank you anyway for your time and for sharing your insights!

Answer 1

Thank you for your insightful response. You've highlighted an important consideration regarding AI's energy consumption and the need for a more strategic approach to its deployment. To ensure sustainability, several methodologies can help determine when and where AI should be applied, such as Energy and Resource Impact Assessment, Cost-Benefit Analysis, and AI Efficiency Metrics.

AI is transforming energy management by enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its applications range from optimizing energy production and consumption to improving predictive analytics and cost management. As technology advances, AI's role in energy systems will drive further innovations, fostering a more sustainable energy future.

By assessing AI's energy impact and comparing the environmental cost to its benefits, organizations can make more informed decisions. Encouraging a culture that prioritizes sustainability and critically evaluates AI's necessity for each task ensures responsible and thoughtful AI deployment.

For more detailed information, please refer to the resources linked below.

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Sustainable AI?

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