Talk synopsis
Event write-up
If you’re working in digital sustainability, the Green IO conferences are definitely worth coming along to. I was delighted to be asked to be part of a panel of ngos discussing if “Is AI yet another software to eco-design?”.
The key points I set out to make
We had a really relevant bit of work going on at Green Web Foundation as we’re mobilising the community to submit responses to the current EU Cloud and AI Development Act consultation – see here for more https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/news/tell-the-eu-keep-ai-within-planetary-boundaries/. We have templated responses that cover the main points you can use wholly or as a starting point. The deadline for submissions was the day of our panel discussion so that was quite handy.
In that spirit I will pick up on a few key points from within there to build on the points that I knew my co-panellists (Anita Schüttler & Rainer Karcher) were making (AI in not just software its infrastructure, responsible use is key, transparency is needed, eco-design needs to go beyond environmental factors).
1. We need to truly acknowledge the scale of the emergency
The crisis we find ourselves isn’t hypothetical. It’s already happening here and now. The AI industry/tech industry is clearly not paying enough attention. If it were, we simply wouldn’t accept allocating the scarce resources we have for the low societal value applications of AI – things like personalised adverts, cosmetic AI tools, content generation and novelty entertainment. We don’t need to eco-design stuff like this, we need to stop it entirely.
2. We need the tech industry to operate within planetary boundaries
AI growth is unquestionably causing more fossil-fuels to be burned, and is consuming cleaner energy sources that could be diverted to critical industries like agriculture, transport, hospitals and schools and private households. For the AI that does give real value (science, public services, healthcare) we need it to be powered only by renewable energy that is locally produced, additive to the grid and hourly matched.
3. Focusing on efficiency alone is not enough
Current eco-design regulations, specifically the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), does not include servers or data storage products as priority products in its current working plan. This means ecodesign requirements for data centres only focus on energy efficiency, leaving out the material footprint, or embodied emissions. Therefore current approaches to eco-design are not enough. For this, and the other points we need better regulation and controls now -> and we have a prime opportunity right now with the EU Cloud and AI Development Act consultation, closing on Thursday 3rd July.
