Research suggest data centers will emit 2.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas by 2030

A report from Morgan Stanley suggests the datacenter industry is on track to emit 2.5 billion tons by 2030, which is three times higher than the predictions if generative AI had not come into play.

The extra demand from GenAI will reportedly lead to a rise in emissions from 200 million tons this year to 600 million tons by 2030, thanks largely to the construction of more data centers to keep up with the demand for cloud services.

  • taiyang@lemmy.world
    48·
    2 months ago

    When I think “AI will end humanity” I was thinking a sort of Skynet type deal, not… this. Sigh.

    • ampersandcastles@lemmy.mlEnglish
      73·
      2 months ago

      Oh, this isn’t it. Capitalists have been doing this long before AI. Which is why I don’t understand why people are attacking AI so hard, tbh.

  • DarkCloud@lemmy.world
    373·
    2 months ago

    …and all so they can steal our collective content, creativity, and every piece of individual thought or content we’ve ever communicated online.

    …with the aim of exploiting it to make billionaires richer.

  • Sam_Bass@lemmy.ml
    6·
    2 months ago

    Few months ago it was bitcoin mining. They both need curtailment for other reasons as well.

  • blazera@lemmy.worldEnglish
    47·
    2 months ago

    I doubt the data centers are generating much of any co2. Fossil fuel power plants are.

  • jsomae@lemmy.ml
    15·
    2 months ago

    U.S. vehicles currently emit 2 billion tons. So that’s very bad news.

    However – I think 2030 is waaay too far in the future to predict anything about AI.