The Environmental Cost of Generative AI

Generative AI has an environmental cost, with data centres accounting for 1% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Microsoft has committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030 and has already reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 17%. Microsoft and other companies are using carbon removal as a strategy in their net-zero goals. Carbon removal refers to the removal of emissions from the atmosphere via various techniques, often including storing it underground. The long-term strategy of Microsoft is to have its data centres running 100% on renewable energy by 2030. The mass take-up of generative AI will have an impact on future years with more emissions to account for. The onus on sustainable AI also falls to users, designers, and implementers.

Article 20m Tricia Sinclair

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