The answer to the title of this letter is, for many, simple: “I want both.” However, it does not seem crazy that, in not many years, we have to choose between one or the other. Or between having less artificial intelligence and less productivity and having cheaper electricity bills. Do we really want a technological acceleration that we are not able to assimilate it?
A few months ago, Schneider Electric published a report in which it is stated that it is necessary that political leaders begin to seriously think about the consumption of electricity of the data centers. The study indicates that the current infrastructure of the data centers requires a considerable amount of energy to function and will need additional resources to support the growth in consumption that is expected to occur with the adoption of AI. The report points out that there is already concern about the possible overload of electrical networks and the possible environmental impact if the energy demand to feed the AI continues to increase to the current rhythm.
The very complete report, by the way, provides that four different scenarios occur that will cause the massive adoption of artificial intelligence: sustainable, growth limits; abundance without limits and energy crisis. The four forecast a general upward trend in energy consumption for the 2025-2030 period, but differ significantly from then on depending on the assumptions that each one support.
In sustainable the efficiency is prioritized to the constant increase in energy consumption. In growth limits a limited trajectory is described where the development of AI reaches natural limits. On the other hand, abundance without limits considers the potential risks of an uncontrolled growth, while the energy crisis scenario examines how the lack of correspondence between demand and energy generation could cause a generalized shortage. The four scenarios are problematic because they all impact energy consumption, but it is the most dangerous energy crisis. And the study does not rule out that it cannot be produced. If produced, energy conflicts will appear with other critical sectors of the economy, which would cause an economic recession and other negative results. And it will be necessary to decide to maintain the flow of energy in the data center or in the hospital. What will we prefer then? The hospital or the data center?
The Schneider Electric report points out that there is already concern about the possible overload of the electrical networks that the data center can cause
The problem, maybe it is not in the data center, but in the speed with which the changes and the advance of vertigo of technology are occurring. Many cios and technology responsible already speak openly of not being able to assimilate all the technology that appears every day. Also specialized journalists talk about it in each meeting we have. It is impossible to be up to date with everything and that, in the long run it is a problem for everyone.
Speed is also an energy and environmental problem. Today, not even with the construction of nuclear power plants, the energy demand that is expected to demand data centers will be absorbed shortly. Each new central, takes a minimum of five years to enter into operation. We do not arrive, then. Maybe it is time to stop a bit and move more slowly.
