We tend to think of data as having no physical form, with no tangible impact on the environment – but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The worldwide consumption of electricity by data centers was estimated to be between 220 and 320 terawatt hours in 2021, more than the electrical consumption of entire countries such as Sweden – a clear problem.
Additionally, a single AI algorithm can generate upward of 300 metric tons of CO2e, the equivalent of 470 people taking flights from NY to SF. However, this brings opportunity to design these algorithms in ways that result in a greener future – while still achieving the same accuracy – through distillation, the transfer of knowledge from larger models into smaller ones, etc.
Our friends over at Booz Allen, are strategizing about what organizations can do now to start making a positive environmental impact, while maintaining the same level of efficiency with AI models. This and many other topics are covered in the latest edition of Velocity, a Booz Allen publication that is available HERE.
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