As tech companies race to develop the latest generative AI models, they face a growing energy challenge. These models, like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, require vast amounts of energy to process data and maintain cooling in data centers.
Estimates suggest that AI could account for a significant portion of US electricity consumption by the end of the decade. This surge in energy demand could undermine tech companies’ climate goals, as renewable energy sources like wind and solar may not be sufficient to meet the demand.
Tech companies are actively seeking renewable energy solutions to address this issue. One promising option is geothermal power. Meta has recently partnered with Sage Geosystems to develop geothermal power plants that could potentially deliver a significant amount of clean energy. This could help tech companies meet their energy needs while reducing their carbon footprint.
Geothermal power harnesses heat from the Earth’s crust to generate electricity. Traditional geothermal methods are limited to areas with volcanic activity. However, new technologies allow for the extraction of geothermal energy from hot solid rocks found deep underground. This approach can generate electricity that reportedly creates 99% less carbon dioxide than similarly sized fossil fuel plants.
Querying OpenAI’s ChatGPT, according to a recent forecast released by financial giant Goldman Sachs, requires around 10 times as much electricity as a typical Google search. And that’s just for text responses. The overall data generated by emerging generative AI image and video models like OpenAI’s Sora “have no precedent” according to the report.
As generative AI models continue to evolve, the demand for energy will only increase. It is crucial for tech companies to explore sustainable and renewable energy sources to mitigate their environmental impact.
Reference- Goldman Sachs report, Popular Science article, The Verge, BBC, Vox