Bill Gates has emphasised that AI's potential to advance the energy transition will offset its emissions, providing a reassuring perspective on the environmental impact of AI.
In a Bloomberg TV interview, he said that AI will enhance the efficiency of data centres, resulting in a smaller share of future power demand.
He mentioned that AI might consume as much as 6 percent of global electricity in the future, compared to the current estimated 2 percent, and he disagreed with estimates exceeding 10 percent.
This statement comes as AI faces increased scrutiny due to expectations of significantly higher energy requirements, with some regions already experiencing a shortage of power supply compared to data centre demand. Gates argued that the additional demand from electric cars, heat pumps, and green steel manufacturing will surpass the demand from data centres.
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In the interview, Gates also discussed the potential of carbon capture technology in achieving a net zero emissions goal, highlighting its limitations due to costs.
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