As Google has pushed to incorporate artificial intelligence into its main businesses, with sometimes disappointing results, a problem has emerged behind the scenes: the systems required to run its AI tools have significantly increased the company’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Artificial intelligence systems require a large number of computers to function properly. Data centers, essentially warehouses full of powerful computing equipment, need massive amounts of energy to process data and handle the heat generated by all of those machines.

Google | CNN Image

Google’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Soaring Thanks To AI

According to Google’s annual environmental report, its greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 48% since 2019. The IT giant attributed the spike primarily to “increased data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions.”

Google now describes its aim of reaching net-zero emissions by 2030 as “extremely ambitious,” and says the vow will likely be influenced by “the uncertainty around the future environmental impact of AI, which is complex and difficult to predict.” In other words, the company’s sustainability push, which formerly contained the tagline “don’t be evil” in its code of conduct, has become more challenging due to artificial intelligence.

Like other internet companies, Google has invested heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), which is widely regarded as the next major technological revolution ready to revolutionize how we live, work, and consume information. The business has integrated its Gemini generative AI technology into some of its core products, including Search and Google Assistant, and CEO Sundar Pichai has described Google as an “AI-first company.”

However, AI has a significant drawback: the power-hungry data centers that Google and other Big Tech companies are investing tens of billions of dollars each quarter to develop to feed their AI goals.

To demonstrate how much more demanding AI models are than traditional computing systems, the International Energy Agency estimates that a Google search query requires 0.3 watt-hours of electricity on average, whereas a ChatGPT request typically consumes approximately 2.9 watt-hours. According to a study published in October by Dutch researcher Alex de Vries, the “worst-case scenario” implies that Google’s AI systems might someday consume as much electricity as Ireland per year, assuming full-scale AI adoption in their existing hardware and software.

“As we further integrate AI into our products, reducing emissions may be challenging due to increasing energy demands from the greater intensity of AI compute, and the emissions associated with the expected increases in our technical infrastructure investment,” said Google in its report, released Monday. It also stated that data center electricity use is currently outpacing the ability to bring carbon-free electricity sources online.

Google’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Soaring Thanks To AI

Google expects greenhouse gas emissions to climb before declining as it invests in clean energy sources like wind and geothermal to power its data centers.

The vast amounts of water required to cool data centers to prevent overheating also pose a sustainability concern. Google plans to refill 120% of the freshwater consumed in its offices and data centers by 2030; last year, it recovered only 18% of that water, a significant increase from 6% the previous year.

Google is among the companies using AI to combat climate change. A 2019 Google DeepMind research study, for example, trained an AI model on weather forecasts and historical wind turbine data to estimate wind power availability, thereby increasing the value of renewable energy to wind farmers. The corporation has also utilized AI to recommend more fuel-efficient routes to vehicles using Google Maps.

“We know that scaling AI and using it to accelerate climate action is just as crucial as addressing the environmental impact associated with it,” according to Google’s report.

SOURCE – CNN

According to the state-owned media site Paper.cn, Tesla automobiles have been added to the Chinese government’s procurement list for the first time.

Tesla is the only foreign-owned electric vehicle brand listed in the Jiangsu provincial government’s buying catalog in eastern China. Other brands suggested include Volvo, which China’s Geely controls, and the state-owned SAIC.

Tesla | PixaBay Image

Tesla Is Now An Official Chinese Government Car

This means that the province’s government agencies and public organizations can purchase them as service vehicles, demonstrating China’s close partnership with Elon Musk’s company.

The development has gone viral on Chinese social media, with some questioning whether the government should consider using foreign cars.

According to an article by the state-owned National Business Daily on Thursday, the Jiangsu government attempted to alleviate such concerns by stating that the Tesla model is “a domestic car, not imported.”

Tesla, which has a large gigafactory in Shanghai, produced over 947,000 cars in China in 2023, most of which were used domestically.

The Jiangsu administration still needs to return CNN’s phone calls. Tesla’s Shanghai-made Model Y was featured in the government’s purchase catalog for 249,900 yuan ($34,377).

China has become an increasingly crucial market for Tesla, accounting for more than half of global EV sales and approximately one-quarter of its overall revenue last year.

However, the US automaker is now experiencing increased competition from Chinese rivals. In the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest EV seller. Tesla reclaimed its position in the first half of the year, although it is still neck and neck.

Due to surveillance and data security concerns, Tesla cars had previously been forbidden from accessing some Chinese government and military installations.

Those limitations were eased in April when a major auto organization announced that Tesla’s vehicles met China’s data security standards. Musk made the news the same day he visited Beijing and met with Premier Li Qiang, who praised Tesla as a “successful model” for the US-China partnership.

The European Commission stated on Thursday that it would impose additional duties of up to 37.6% on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles starting Friday.

Tesla | PixaBay Image

Tesla Is Now An Official Chinese Government Car

The tariffs first announced in early June, are considered a necessary step by the EU to stop a flood of low-cost Chinese vehicles constructed with “unfair” government subsidies.

According to the Commission, Tesla, a significant exporter of Chinese-made electric vehicles to Europe, has requested a separate tariff rate calculation. The company is currently subject to an average 20.8% extra tariff as part of a group of enterprises participating in the EU’s probe.

SOURCE – (CNN)

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Civil Rights Department stated Wednesday that Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay $14.4 million to settle accusations that the global software company penalized and discriminated against employees who took protected leave, such as parental or disability leave.

The proposed payment follows a multi-year probe by the California agency. The consent decree must be approved in state court in Santa Clara County, where the Redmond, Washington-based corporation maintains an office.

The state agency, which began its inquiry in 2020, claimed that employees who took time off work due to pregnancy or disability, to connect with a new infant or to care for a sick family member earned smaller bonuses and poor performance evaluations.

These variables, in turn, hindered employees’ eligibility for merit pay increases and promotions, and the practice disproportionately affected women and individuals with disabilities, the department stated.

Microsoft | AP News Image

Microsoft Will Pay $14M To Settle Allegations It Discriminated Against Employees Who Took Leave

In a statement, civil rights department head Kevin Kish praised the corporation “for coming to the table and agreeing to make the changes necessary to protect workers in California.”

Microsoft said in a statement that the agency’s charges were false but “will continue to listen, learn, and support our employees.”

As part of the proposed settlement, Microsoft will implement measures to prevent future discrimination, such as enhanced manager training. An outside consultant will track and report on the company’s compliance.

The majority of the settlement money, $14.2 million, will go to injured workers. Covered employees worked for Microsoft between May 13, 2017, and a yet-to-be-determined court approval date for the settlement, and they took at least one leave protected by state or federal law.

Microsoft | PixaBay Image

Microsoft Will Pay $14M To Settle Allegations It Discriminated Against Employees Who Took Leave

Each qualifying employee will get a base payment of $1,500, with additional funds available depending on salary and length of employment.

According to the state civil rights agency, Microsoft employs over 221,000 people worldwide, with nearly 7,000 based in California. The agency does not estimate how many workers will get paid.

SOURCE – (AP)