As artificial intelligence transforms the global economy, researchers urgently need to explore the future carbon footprint of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, argues a group of sustainability researchers.
The direct impacts of AI computing infrastructure — currently about 0.01% of global greenhouse-gas emissions — are likely to remain relatively small, the researchers write. But there could be huge indirect impacts from the way AI tools transform our economies and societies. The group urges researchers to assess whether AI will help or hinder climate progress under different possible scenarios.