It’s no secret that generative AI is a resource-intensive industry. Many major tech companies developing AI have revisited and revised their carbon goals due to the power-hungry nature of the technology. While tech’s scope 2 emissions are skyrocketing, many AI users have questioned exactly how their AI use impacts their Scope 3. Now, a company has set out to develop an environmental impact calculator for most major AI models. ESG.ai announced its new tool this week, stating in a press release that:
“Users can enter how much they use AI each day – whether that’s pages generated, tokens processed, or other standard industry benchmarks – and select where that usage takes place, such as the U.S., EU, Canada, France, or China. The calculator then shows how much electricity, water, and emissions that level of AI use generates over a month, six months, or a year, along with the associated operating costs.”
Of course, we’ll have to see if this tool stands up to third-party scrutiny and if the results are auditable. However, it does speak to an emerging need for ESG professionals. AI, while transformative in some applications, comes with a whole Pandora’s box of issues. Readers can check out our blogs on TheAICounsel.net to see that there’s no shortage of complex problems to solve and risks to consider. The environmental impact of the technology is one of the hardest issues to mitigate. However, with new tools coming onto the market, we can better understand how our organizations contribute to these environmental impacts and gain insight into how to reduce them.
Our members can learn more about AI in ESG here.
Members also save hours of research and reading time each week by using our filtered and curated library of ESG/sustainability resources covering over 100 sustainability subject areas – updated daily with practical and credible information compiled without the use of AI.
If you’re not already a member, sign up now and take advantage of our no-risk “100-Day Promise” – during the first 100 days as an activated member, you may cancel for any reason and receive a full refund. But it will probably pay for itself before then.
Practical Guidance for Companies, Curated for Clarity.
