Google’s emissions have increased by 48% in five years due to the expansion of AI

Google’s greenhouse gas emissions have increased 48 percent over the past five years, largely due to Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) products, which rely heavily on energy-intensive data centers.

The company’s annual environmental report identifies ‘increases in data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions’ as the main contributors to this increase, with total emissions reaching 14.3 million tonnes.

It is estimated that data centers contribute between 2.3 and 3.7 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions, surpassing the global aviation industry, which contributes 2.1 percent. This alarming statistic underlines the significant environmental footprint of the fast-growing AI sector.

In his reportGoogle acknowledged the challenges ahead: “Achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 is an extremely ambitious goal and we know it won’t be easy,” emphasizing that the future environmental impact of AI is “complex and difficult can be predicted’.

Despite these concerns, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently downplayed AI’s climate impact. He suggested that AI could be beneficial rather than harmful to the environment, stressing that major tech companies are “seriously willing” to invest in clean energy solutions.

In late 2023, Google launched Gemini, a key competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, marking its major foray into the AI ​​landscape. Additionally, Google is integrating AI into its new Pixel phones to improve their functionality.

John Kirk, Chief Sustainability Officer at ITM, commented: “The insatiable demand for AI adoption is already fueling a wave of increased emissions, leaving major brands open to criticism over their sustainability credentials. Forward-thinking organizations will need to reassess the environmental impacts of their activities and work with supply chain partners to provide a more transparent account of their activities. Customers now expect both accountability and a clear action plan to offset or reduce emissions, and without this accountability, trust will be lost.”

As Google and other tech giants continue to innovate and expand their AI capabilities, they face increasing pressure to address the associated environmental costs. Balancing technological progress and sustainability will be critical to maintaining public trust and achieving long-term climate goals.