AI isn’t just about building smarter machines. It’s about building a greener world.
From optimizing energy use to reducing emissions, artificial intelligence and accelerated computing are helping industries tackle some of the world’s toughest environmental challenges.
As Joshua Parker, NVIDIA’s Senior Director of Corporate Sustainability, explains on the latest edition of NVIDIA’s AI Podcast, these technologies are powering a new era of energy efficiency.
Can AI Help Reduce Energy Consumption?
Yes. And it’s doing it in ways that might surprise you.
AI systems themselves use energy—sure—but the big story is how AI and accelerated computing are helping other systems save energy.
Take data centers, for instance.
They’re the backbone of AI, housing the powerful systems that crunch the data needed for AI to work.
Globally, data centers account for about 2% of total energy consumption, and AI-specific centers represent only a tiny fraction of that, Parker explains.
Despite this, AI’s real superpower lies in its ability to optimize.
How? By using accelerated computing platforms that combine GPUs and CPUs.
GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) are designed to handle complex computations quickly and efficiently.
In fact, these systems can be up to 20 times more energy-efficient than traditional CPU-only systems, Parker notes.
That’s not just good for tech companies—it’s good for the environment, too.
What is Accelerated Computing?
At its core, accelerated computing is about doing more with less.
It involves using specialized hardware—like GPUs—to perform tasks faster and with less energy.
This isn’t just theoretical. Over the last eight years, AI systems running on accelerated computing platforms have become 45,000 times more energy-efficient, Parker said.
That’s a staggering leap in performance, driven by improvements in both hardware and software.
So why does this matter? It matters because, as AI becomes more widespread, the demand for computing power grows.
Accelerated computing helps companies scale their AI operations without consuming massive amounts of energy. This energy efficiency is key to AI’s ability to tackle some of today’s biggest sustainability challenges.
AI in Action: Tackling Climate Change
AI isn’t just saving energy—it’s helping to fight climate change.
For instance, AI-enhanced weather forecasting is becoming more accurate, allowing industries and governments to prepare for climate-related events like hurricanes or floods, Parker explains.
The better we can predict these events, the better we can prepare for them, which means fewer resources wasted and less damage done.
Another key area is the rise of digital twins—virtual models of physical environments.
These AI-powered simulations allow companies to optimize energy consumption in real-time, without having to make costly changes in the physical world.
In one case, using a digital twin helped a company achieve a 10% reduction in energy use, Parker said. That may sound small, but scale it across industries and the impact is huge.
AI is also playing a crucial role in developing new materials for renewable energy technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles, accelerating the transition to clean energy.
Can AI Make Data Centers More Sustainable?
Here’s the thing: AI needs data centers to operate, and as AI grows, so does the demand for computing power. But data centers don’t have to be energy hogs.
In fact, they can be part of the sustainability solution.
One major innovation is direct-to-chip liquid cooling. This technology allows data centers to cool their systems much more efficiently than traditional air conditioning methods, which are often energy-intensive.
By cooling directly at the chip level, this method saves energy, helping data centers stay cool without guzzling power, Parker explains.
As AI scales up, the future of data centers will depend on designing for energy efficiency from the ground up. That means integrating renewable energy, using energy storage solutions, and continuing to innovate with cooling technologies.
The goal is to create green data centers that can meet the world’s growing demand for compute power without increasing their carbon footprint, Parker says.
The Role of AI in Building a Sustainable Future
AI is not just a tool for optimizing systems—it’s a driver of sustainable innovation. From improving the efficiency of energy grids to enhancing supply chain logistics, AI is leading the charge in reducing waste and emissions.
Let’s look at energy grids. AI can monitor and adjust energy distribution in real-time, ensuring that resources are allocated where they’re needed most, reducing waste.
This is particularly important as the world moves toward renewable energy, which can be less predictable than traditional sources like coal or natural gas, Parker said.
AI is also helping industries reduce their carbon footprints. By optimizing routes and predicting demand more accurately, AI can cut down on fuel use and emissions in logistics and transportation sectors.
Looking to the future, AI’s role in promoting sustainability is only going to grow.
As technologies become more energy-efficient and AI applications expand, we can expect AI to play a crucial role in helping industries meet their sustainability goals, Parker said.
It’s not just about making AI greener—it’s about using AI to make the world greener.
AI and accelerated computing are reshaping how we think about energy and sustainability.
With their ability to optimize processes, reduce energy waste, and drive innovations in clean technology, these technologies are essential tools for creating a sustainable future.
As Parker explains on NVIDIA’s AI Podcast, AI’s potential to save energy and combat climate change is vast—and we’re only just beginning to tap into it.
As AI continues to revolutionize industries and drive sustainability, there’s no better time to dive deeper into its transformative potential. If you’re eager to explore how AI and accelerated computing are shaping the future of energy efficiency and climate solutions, join us at the NVIDIA AI Summit.
Event Date: October 9, 2024
Register here and gain exclusive insights into the innovations that are powering a sustainable world.
Don’t miss your chance to learn from the leading minds in AI and sustainability. Let’s create a greener future together.