The sustainability dilemma for AI-powered IT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming the world around us. From reshaping industries like healthcare and finance to revolutionising how we communicate and solve complex problems, the benefits of AI are undeniable.

 

However, the rapid adoption of AI comes with significant environmental consequences. Behind the seamless AI-powered services we now take for granted lies an immense computational infrastructure, one that consumes unprecedented amounts of electricity. As the demand for AI continues to surge, so too does its environmental impact, creating a complex sustainability dilemma.

 

The energy-intensive nature of AI stems primarily from the enormous computational power required to train and operate its algorithms. Machine learning, the core technology behind AI, relies on data - mountains of it. Leading tech companies like Microsoft and Google have reported emissions surging by 30% and 50%, respectively, primarily due to the energy demands of data centres required to train and run AI models.

 

For instance, A typical AI data centre, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), uses as much power as 100,000 households right now, but the largest centres currently being constructed will consume 20 times that amount. These figures are particularly concerning in the context of climate change, where global efforts are focused on reducing emissions to net zero.

 

Much of this energy consumption occurs in data centres, which are the invisible engines powering the digital age. These facilities process, store, and distribute the lifeblood of AI: data. Globally, data centres are responsible for approximately 1% of all electricity consumption, a figure that is expected to rise as AI adoption accelerates. And while these centres are critical to supporting technological progress, their role in driving up energy demand has raised alarm bells among climate scientists and sustainability advocates.

 

 

Sustainability and AI

The challenge of aligning AI adoption with environmental sustainability lies in rethinking how data centres operate not only for hyperscalers, but for the growing number of small and medium-sized enterprises integrating AI into their operations, too. As AI becomes more accessible, sustainability is no longer just a big tech problem. Without intervention, the risk of data centres contributing disproportionately to global emissions is very real. Fortunately, innovation across the technology sector has begun to focus on mitigating this impact, transitioning from traditional energy-intensive operations to more sustainable practices.

 

Central to this shift is the diversification of energy sources. Many leading organisations like IONOS are investing in renewable energy to power their data centres, moving away from fossil fuels and embracing solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. These efforts are particularly important for reducing emissions in regions where the local power grid remains heavily carbon dependent. By embracing renewables data centres can operate more sustainably while contributing to broader climate goals.

 

As well as being a technical challenge, sustainability is increasingly becoming a regulatory one. As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting standards tighten, especially in Europe and North America, companies must be able to track and prove the carbon footprint of their IT operations. This is pushing cloud and infrastructure providers to make energy usage both efficient and auditable.

 

 

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is another critical factor in reducing the carbon footprint of AI and its supporting infrastructure. Advances in cooling systems for data centres have shown promise in cutting down on energy waste. In Europe especially, there’s a growing emphasis on energy transparency, water usage reduction, and integrating renewable power directly into local grids. These evolving standards reflect a broader push toward sustainable infrastructure one that prioritises both climate impact and regional energy independence. Traditional air conditioning systems, which consume a significant portion of a data centre’s energy, are being replaced by innovative solutions like liquid cooling and free cooling systems, both of which use less power.

 

Furthermore, the hardware powering data centres is also evolving, with energy-efficient processors specifically designed to handle AI workloads now coming to the forefront. Beyond hardware upgrades, the architecture of cloud platforms themselves is shifting. A growing number of providers, especially in Europe, are offering scalable infrastructure built with sustainability in mind. Transparent energy reporting, modular resource scaling, and regionalised cloud zones allow businesses to meet performance needs without compromising environmental goals. These processors allow AI applications to operate with less power-intensive resources, lowering their environmental impact without sacrificing performance.

 

 

AI as a solution

Interestingly, AI itself has the potential to play a role in solving its own sustainability conundrum. By deploying AI for real-time monitoring and optimisation of data centre operations, operators can reduce waste and identify inefficiencies. For example, predictive analytics powered by AI can anticipate system failures, reducing the need for costly and resource-intensive emergency repairs. Likewise, AI can identify patterns of energy consumption and recommend adjustments, making data centres more sustainable and better equipped to handle fluctuating demands.

 

Although progress is being made, there is still a long way to go to ensure that AI and sustainability can coexist harmoniously. While many companies are embracing the transition to greener IT practices, the pace of change must accelerate to keep up with technological advancement. This requires collaboration between private companies, policymakers, and sustainability experts to develop and enforce global standards that prioritise environmental responsibility within the tech sector. Moving forward, striking a balance between technological innovation and ecological responsibility will be key to navigating this complex landscape.

 

 

The future of AI

This challenge is not insurmountable. With the right focus and commitment, it is possible to harness the potential of AI without compromising the health of our planet. The task now is to ensure that sustainability becomes as integral to technological progress as innovation itself.

 

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Stefan Mink is Head of TechOps, Data Center & Bare Metal at IONOS a leading provider of sustainable IT infrastructure solutions

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and Shinsei Motions