The rise of AI in 2023 has been majorly unprecedented and it is moving at a faster rate than was foreseen.
Many people have been so caught up in the concept of what AI can do that little attention has been paid to its sustainability.
It is now glaring that the most interesting invention of the 21st century burns a large amount of non-renewable energy.
Concerns have been raised as to how this situation could be turned around, while also increasing the rate of AI adoption.
Green AI is a technology that is designed to be environment-friendly and sustainable, thereby limiting the use of the more common non-renewable energy.
Everyone must play their role in making the world pollution-free, climate-friendly, and more sustainable.
That said, business owners are not left out of this call.
Business owners must be conscious of the economic impact of their actions while integrating AI into their processes.
Green AI is not really in circulation; it can only be found in agriculture, shipping, and other select few. More AI machines that rely on renewable sources of energy are still in production.
However, we cannot fold our arms and expect things to fall into place automatically. Business owners can take steps to mitigate the level of carbon emissions AI produces, convert them into renewable energy, and so on.
Renewable sources of energy are as good as their non-renewable counterparts. This means if well channeled, total reliance on non-renewable energy will become something of the past.
The following steps would point any business owner in the right direction to efficiently incorporate AI into their processes, while also keeping an eye on clean energy and sustainability.
- Go renewable
AI relies heavily on non-renewable sources of energy, making it almost incompatible with the environment.
However, processing the data it is fed and training algorithms are two things that can be done with renewable sources of energy.
We need to leave the tiniest amount of carbon footprint possible. Gas emissions, exhaust, and aquatic waste are the top killers of our climate, ecosystem, and marine life.
Another way one can go renewable is by storing the data AI has gathered in a cloud that uses renewable energy to power its data center.
By going renewable on all fronts, we are slowly but steadily erasing our carbon footprint and this is essential in creating a future for humanity. Custom-made cardboard boxes are a good example of this.
As a business owner who uses the power of AI, you can power your tools with renewable sources of energy and also choose cloud providers that use renewable energy to power their data center.
- Careful and precise planning
AI models require continuous training and updating in their lifetime before they are decommissioned. This explains how they can generate a high amount of data but consume an even higher quantity of energy.
Compressing data, recycling hardware, and using the most efficient algorithms are good ways to reduce the environmental impact of using AI.
To be able to do all the above specified, one must have laid down plans long before adopting any kind of AI.
Here are a few environmentally friendly ways to do the above specified:
- In choosing a hardware provider, research those that produce recyclable hardware.
Hardware is very important in the
process of using and maintaining AI.
They store all the data and
algorithms the AI needs and
produce, this indicates that it
is a long-term thing.
Finding providers that use recyclable hardware is one sure way to reduce one’s negative impact on the environment.
- AI users, business owners inclusive must research and only use the most efficient methods of finding and managing data.
This is not an easy task as it clearly reduces the level of carbon emissions used by managing data and instead only using as much as necessary.
- Conduct more research
There are more cost-effective ways to reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy. A business owner can collaborate with other organizations and research institutions to discover new ways of going green.
By partnering with research institutes with the same goals, we can easily learn more about better ways to harness the power of renewable energy and how your business, no matter how small, can go green and save the earth.
AI can drive innovation, transform industries, and improve decision-making. More AI models would emerge and as a result, sustainability would be a hot topic among experts.
By making the switch to renewable energy, you can be a pioneer for green AI and even use this to attract more customers from the sea of people who are sympathetic to the cause and willing to help those fighting.
With all the above stated, we can safely conclude that integrating AI into one’s business in an environment-friendly manner is the way to go.
