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Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged that the massive energy needs of AI—which made up 1.5% of global electricity use last year—have impacted the company\’s net-zero by 2030 climate targets. He also stressed that AI\’s revolution will \”evolve and transition\” jobs globally.
In a wide-ranging interview, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, addressed the hidden costs of the AI revolution, issuing a stern warning about the \”immense\” energy needs of the emerging technology.
Pichai confirmed that the intensive power demands of the company\’s expanding AI ventures have led to a slippage in the rate of progress toward Alphabet\’s long-standing goal of achieving net zero by 2030.
Climate and Infrastructure Warning
The energy consumption of AI is a rapidly growing global concern, accounting for 1.5% of the world\’s electricity consumption last year, according to the International Energy Agency.
Pichai stressed that countries, including the UK, need to scale up energy infrastructure and develop new energy sources.
\”You don\’t want to constrain an economy based on energy, and I think that will have consequences,\” he warned. He reaffirmed that the net zero by 2030 target remains in place, emphasizing investment in new energy technologies to meet the goal despite the current impact.
The Future of Work
Pichai called AI \”the most profound technology\” humankind has ever worked on, acknowledging that it will cause \”societal disruptions\” but also create new opportunities.
He advised workers across all sectors that adaptation will be key: \”It will evolve and transition certain jobs, and people will need to adapt,\” he said.
He predicted that success in the future workforce will rely on embracing the technology: \”The people who will do well in each of those professions are people who learn how to use these tools,\” whether they are a teacher, a doctor, or any other professional.
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