Technology Category
Machine Learning: Efficient ML / Green AIPhilosophy and Ethics of AI: Philosophical Foundations of AIHumans and AI: Other Foundations of Human Computation & AI
The environmental impact of ICT in the era of data and artificial intelligence
🤖 AI Summary
Amid the rapid expansion of information and communication technologies (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI) exhibits a dual environmental impact: while data centers contribute significantly to rising carbon emissions, AI also enables emission reductions across other sectors. This study presents the first unified framework that systematically integrates macro-level ICT data with AI’s full life-cycle emissions. By employing life-cycle assessment, emissions accounting, precise system boundary definition, and cross-sectoral impact modeling, the work quantifies both direct and indirect environmental effects of AI. It identifies key sources of uncertainty, clarifies emerging trends in data center emissions, and proposes standardized evaluation methodologies alongside actionable pathways for green AI deployment, thereby addressing critical gaps in existing analytical approaches.
Technology Category
Application Category
📝 Abstract
The technology industry promotes artificial intelligence (AI) as a key enabler to solve a vast number of problems, including the environmental crisis. However, when looking at the emissions of datacenters from worldwide service providers, we observe a rapid increase aligned with the advent of AI. Some actors justify it by claiming that the increase of emissions for digital infrastructures is acceptable as it could help the decarbonization of other sectors, e.g., videoconference tools instead of taking the plane for a meeting abroad, or using AI to optimize and reduce energy consumption. With such conflicting claims and ambitions, it is unclear how the net environmental impact of AI could be quantified. The answer is prone to uncertainty for different reasons, among others: lack of transparency, interference with market expectations, lack of standardized methodology for quantifying direct and indirect impact, and the quick evolutions of models and their requirements. This report provides answers and clarifications to these different elements. Firstly, we consider the direct environmental impact of AI from a top-down approach, starting from general information and communication technologies (ICT) and then zooming in on data centers and the different phases of AI development and deployment. Secondly, a framework is introduced on how to assess both the direct and indirect impact of AI. Finally, we finish with good practices and what we can do to reduce AI impact.
Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
environmental impact
artificial intelligence
data centers
carbon emissions
ICT
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
environmental impact assessment
AI sustainability
data center emissions
indirect carbon footprint
methodological framework
🔎 Similar Papers
No similar papers found.
