UN chief calls on AI firms to 'come clean' on environmental costs
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged AI companies to disclose the environmental impact of their systems during a climate conference in London, as Europe grapples with a severe heatwave and concerns over AI's energy consumption grow.
As Europe swelters under a major heatwave, the energy-intensiveness of artificial intelligence has come into the spotlight.
At a climate conference in London, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on AI companies to disclose the environmental impact of their systems. He stressed that tech giants must reveal the energy consumption and carbon footprint of their data centers and operations, especially at a time when the world is facing the consequences of climate change.
The call comes as several European countries record extreme temperatures, intensifying debates on energy efficiency and the need for green technologies. Guterres emphasized that AI development should not come at the expense of the planet, urging the industry to take greater responsibility for its impact.
CONTEXT: The rapid growth of AI has led to a surge in data centers, which consume vast amounts of electricity. Studies show that training large AI models can produce carbon emissions comparable to hundreds of cars over their lifetimes.
Guterres stated that transparency is a critical step toward a more sustainable tech industry. He called on companies not only to disclose their impact data but also to actively seek ways to reduce energy consumption by using renewable energy sources and more efficient technologies.
