A recent study has revealed that emissions from artificial intelligence (AI) could surpass that of all 35 million vehicles in California by the year 2030.
California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the state’s unique energy and natural resource challenges as a global leader in AI on December 16.
He emphasized that 32 of the top 50 AI companies worldwide, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Databricks, are based in California.
Newsom stated, “California is at the forefront of this rapidly changing world.”
Newsom suggested that the state could utilize small modular nuclear reactors to help achieve sustainability goals amidst the growing AI industry.
Researchers from the University of California–Riverside and the California Institute of Technology found that AI significantly contributes to air quality degradation and public health impacts.
According to the study, training AI models can generate as much air pollution as driving from Los Angeles to New York City over 10,000 times.
By 2030, AI-related emissions may surpass those from vehicles on California’s roads, with data center electricity consumption projected to triple nationwide.
The authors proposed implementing measures to report air pollution impacts and balancing workloads with renewable energy sources to mitigate health risks.
While acknowledging the benefits of AI, researchers emphasized the necessity of evaluating the health costs associated with its growth.
The study estimated that AI-related pollution could result in 600,000 asthma cases and 1,300 premature deaths in 2030, with annual public health costs exceeding $20 billion.
As AI data centers require continuous operation, their power consumption, often fueled by fossil fuels and diesel generators, contributes to air pollution.
The authors recommended conducting thorough cost-benefit analyses to assess the short- and long-term health impacts of AI growth.
AI is predicted to play a significant role in various industries and people’s lives, necessitating a comprehensive approach to address its environmental and health consequences.
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