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

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/20289663

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.

  • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
    559·
    2 months ago

    Between AI and shitcoin mining, these two “technology branches” already consume more power than all the green power added to the grid combined.

    It’s why humans will always remain de facto slaves to a few masters. Anything that could potentially be advantageous to all life on Earth? Only if the ones at the top get to profit first. No profit? Enjoy scorching to death on hell-planet for the next forty years!

    • Sanctus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      51·
      2 months ago

      I dont think much will remain after this extinction event. Do you know how long it takes niches to refill in an ecosystem? We’re going to get to a point where industry collapses and we are reset if we survive at all.

      • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        2 months ago

        We wouldn’t even be able to restart. All the easily available resources have been delved. Three thousand years ago people could scoop pure gold from rivers by the kilos. Today, all decent deposits lie kilometers below the surface.

        But it’ll be for the best. We had our shot and blew it.

        • Sanctus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          2 months ago

          Maybe resources will be scarce enough that we are forced to try something other than capitalism, as we have to share to make it anywhere. Or maybe it will just make all resources needed for advanced technologies unavaible. Then we can fight over whose hut is closest to the last river.

    • Blaster M@lemmy.worldEnglish
      23·
      2 months ago

      AI consumes power, yes, it’s projected to triple its environmental impact, yes, but its environmental impact is much less than most other things. If anything, the AI hate train draws angry peoples’ focus off the big polluters that matter.

      “Arrghle AI is in everything and modern cars track you, I’ll just drive a 30+ year old pickup truck because they don’t has no AI tracking nonsense”

      Oil and gas companies: money