Environmental impact of AI innovations in smartphones, ethical debate
Technology: Technology giant Apple launches its latest iPhone every September. This year’s model, the iPhone 16, introduces software called Apple Intelligence. There has been much debate about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI), but less about its impact on the environment. The technology sector emits greenhouse gases throughout the lifecycle of devices. According to a report by the French Environment Agency, the largest digital CO2 emissions are in the manufacturing sector, with 21% coming from daily use of smartphones and other connected devices. With the integration of AI technologies, the problem becomes even worse.
Artificial intelligence algorithms require large amounts of computing power, resulting in enormous energy and water consumption to cool massive data centers around the world. A 2019 University of California study found that training an artificial intelligence model could result in the same greenhouse gas emissions as 205 round-trip flights from Paris to New York. Additionally, a recent study from the University of Colorado found that asking just 25 questions on ChatGPT uses half a liter of fresh water.
Although the impact of AI on the environment is well known, there is a significant lack of transparency among industry players. Experts emphasize the need for standardized measures to measure these impacts and support government interventions to set clear guidelines. It is estimated that France’s digital carbon emissions will triple by 2050 compared to 2020. However, AI also has the potential to play a positive role in climate research, particularly in collecting and analyzing data to predict extreme weather events.
The Environmental Impact of Smartphone AI Innovations: Learn More
As technological innovations continue to transform the smartphone industry, the impact of these developments on the environment is becoming increasingly important. While artificial intelligence represents a promising field for advancement, it also raises various concerns regarding its environmental footprint.
