Contributed by Cassiane Bohn Au, Global Green Chemistry Innovation and Network Program Assistant at Yale University and Ashley Baker, Scientific Content and Community Manager at the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute
In this day and age, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere and nearly impossible to avoid. From basic grammar checks to analyzing complex data, AI technologies can significantly increase daily productivity and outperform mundane human tasks. There is no doubt that AI tools are becoming more popular each year and are increasingly being adopted across industries. For example, AI could help improve supply chain operations, reduce human errors, and make meaningful contributions to the fight against climate change. In fact, the digital platforms featured in our Safer Alternatives database use AI technology and are essential for streamlining unnecessary processing in manufacturing. “AI-Enabled Green Chemistry” was even the theme of the 28th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, which took place in Atlanta this June. The conference featured talks on how AI is facilitating advances in greener synthetic chemistry, life cycle assessments, and pharmaceutical design. Without the aid of artificial intelligence, many innovations enabling sustainable solutions wouldn’t be available in time to help us achieve net-zero targets by 2050.
Despite the growing benefits, AI also presents disadvantages. For example, the wide use of artificial intelligence tools has led to a rise in companies making fraudulent marketing tactics, creating fake for-profit scientific conferences, or even fake but “authentic-looking” scientific articles. Another concern is the significant energy and water consumption required in data centers that power artificial intelligence. These data centers, which house the servers and hardware necessary for AI operations, consume large amounts of electricity and water for cooling, detracting from the sustainability benefits they otherwise make possible. According to Yale Environment 360, data centers are projected to reach roughly the same amount of energy consumed by the entire country of Japan in 2026, and another study reported that an AI-powered search uses about 10 times the energy of a standard search engine query. Since the water required by these centers must be the same quality as drinking water to avoid damaging delicate electronics, it poses water scarcity concerns in areas with already limited drinking water supply. Finally, ambitious emission-reduction goals set out by large tech companies like Google and Microsoft are threatened by the rise of AI.
There’s a growing awareness of the need to account for these environmental and human impacts. Organizations like the U.S. National Academy of Sciences are already exploring the connection between data and climate, and tools like Think Check Submit provide researchers with means to check the reputability of publications they’re considering as future homes for their papers. Existing sustainability metrics like life cycle analysis will need to include the impacts of research conducted using data centers.
While AI can be a tool that helps us achieve a sustainable future, it is important to be aware of the environmental footprint of its use. As artificial intelligence continues to increase globally, we must be aware of the implications for problems that humans are trying to solve through its use: that the very technologies designed to improve sustainability could undermine those same efforts.
However, just as new sustainability challenges will continue to arise, researchers and innovators will continue to create new tools and resources that work for the greater good. As with all new technologies, creative thinkers around the world will find ways to integrate, improve, and surpass currently available AI-based solutions.
