Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt urges AI acceleration, dismisses climate goals
'We're not going to hit the climate goals anyway because we're not organised to do it,' Schmidt says
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has ignited a debate within the tech industry and environmental circles with a bold statement, suggesting that the pursuit of AI should take precedence over climate change goals.
Speaking at an AI summit last week, Schmidt argued that the massive energy consumption required to power AI datacentres would inevitably overshadow efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
"All of that will be swamped by the enormous needs of this new technology," Schmidt said.
"Because it's a universal technology, and because it's the arrival of an alien intelligence… we may make mistakes with respect to how it's used, but I can assure you that we're not going to get there through conservation."
Schmidt expressed doubt about the likelihood of meeting ambitious climate goals, like the Biden administration's target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
He said he doesn't believe "we're not going to hit the climate goals anyway because we're not organised to do it."
While acknowledging the challenges in this area, Schmidt added, "I'd rather bet on AI solving the problem" than trying to limit it and still facing the issue.
Schmidt was Google's CEO from 2001 to 2011, during which time the company became "carbon neutral" for the first time.
At the event, Schmidt mentioned that there are ways to mitigate AI's negative environmental impact, such as improving batteries and power lines for datacentres. However, he believes that the growth of AI will eventually surpass these preventive measures.
Schmidt's comments criticised
Schmidt's comments have drawn sharp criticism from environmental experts who warn that the unchecked growth of AI could have catastrophic consequences for the planet.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that power consumption for AI datacentres will increase tenfold by 2024 compared to 2022 levels.
According to IEA, datacentres consumed between 1% and 1.5% of global electricity in 2022, before the surge in AI technologies.
With the rise of systems like ChatGPT, which Goldman Sachs estimates use nearly 10 times more electricity than a typical Google search, electricity demand is expected to skyrocket.
"Goldman Sachs Research estimates the overall increase in datacentre power consumption from AI to be on the order of 200 terawatt-hours per year between 2023 and 2030. By 2028, our analysts expect AI to represent about 19% of datacentre power demand," the investment bank says.
Big Tech companies have faced increasing scrutiny over their emissions management, despite their claims of environmental responsibility.
Google, for instance, has made significant investments in renewable energy and committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2030. However, recent reports indicate that Google's emissions have risen sharply due to the escalating energy demands of its AI operations.
In 2023, the company's datacentre electricity consumption alone jumped by 17%, with no signs of slowing as AI becomes more integrated into its services.
A Guardian report last month suggested that datacentres owned by Meta, Google, Apple and Microsoft may be emitting over 660% more carbon than these companies officially disclose.
Despite these concerns, Schmidt said he remains optimistic that AI itself can provide solutions to the climate crisis. He believes that AI-powered technologies could help develop more efficient energy sources and reduce emissions.