Orgs demand action to mitigate AI’s environmental harm | TechCrunch

A group of more than 100 organizations published an open letter calling for the AI ​​industry and regulatory authorities to mitigate the harmful effects on the environment a few days before the leading heads of the industry, heads of states, scientists and non -profit organizations descend to Paris for a major conference of artificial intelligence.

A letter that has the signatures of outstanding lawying groups, including Amnesty International and the AI ​​Institute, notes that there are more and more evidence ”of AI systems contributing to emissions,“ blocking ”depending on non -renewable and exhaustive critical resources. Nevertheless, little is done to solve these negative external factors, since the technical sector and government justify further investments in AI, according to the letter.

“AI can never be a“ climatic solution ”if it works on fossil fuel,” the letter says. “We, who signed it, demand that the AI ​​systems are compatible with our planetary borders.”

The signatures are approved by clear requirements that call the other and the infrastructure of AI, including data centers, is not free from fossil fuel. As a result of building the infrastructure for the development and management of AI, electric nets are strained, which forced some utilities to rely on coal and other environmentally friendly sources of power, the letter notes.

“By 2026, the consumption of electricity of the global data center can double to more than 1000 teravatts, which is equivalent to the annual use of electricity in Japan,” the letter said, referring to the data of the International Energy Agency. “In some parts of the world, this growing demand pushes the infrastructure of power to its restrictions, prolongs and enhances our dependence on fossil fuel, pollution, from which it is associated with public health problems.”

The letter also calls on governments and technological companies to ensure that the new data processing centers do not deplete water and land resources, and maintain transparency on the influence of AI on the environment throughout the life cycle. ”

Most data processing centers that can cover millions of square feet require a lot of water not only to cool the chips inside, but also to maintain safe humidity levels for computing equipment. According to one assessment, if 1 out of 10 residents of the United States asked Openai working on AI, a chatbot, write an email per week, it will cost more than 435 million liters of water.

Subscribing letters claim that their requirements “represent a minimum” necessary to mitigate the continuing harm from uncontrolled expansion of AI.

“The countries and communities, most vulnerable to the rapid change in climate, will first affect the harm of AI and its computational requirements, and they can say less in its development,” the letter says. “We must go beyond the framework of the technological progress under consideration as useful or unlimited, and instead determine the priorities of artificial intelligence processes that significantly contribute to society when minimizing environmental and human harm.”

Unfortunately, for the signed, the United States, where most of the large artificial intelligence companies are based, gave an idea that they intend to accept growth at all costs.

President Donald Trump said that he will use the energy emergency declaration to quickly approve new power plants for artificial intelligence data centers, including those that use coal for backup power. Trump also promised to quickly track environmental approvals and other permits for any company that invests $ 1 billion or more inside the country.