With the support of Capgemini, the AI and Society Institute, the Ecole normale supérieure (ENS-PLS) and the ENS Foundation have launched an Observatory dedicated to analyzing and mitigating the environmental impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at all stages of its lifecycle (training, adjustment, inference and end-of-life). The new Observatory aims to establish a solid, shared methodology to encourage sustainable AI usage.
The widespread adoption of AI, especially generative AI, has unlocked significant opportunities across various sectors. However, the growing computational demand for these new uses is leading to an increase of its environmental footprint (in terms of energy and water consumption, as well as carbon footprint), making it necessary to systematically assess their impact and implement measures to mitigate them. A recent research paper from a Capgemini R&D team highlights that large generative AI models consume 4,600 times more energy than traditional models, with AI-related electricity usage potentially increasing 24.4 times in the most extreme scenario by 2030. Mitigating this environmental impact in the coming years will require a coordinated effort from all stakeholders across the AI value chain, cites the publication.
The global Observatory on AI’s environmental impact intends to address these challenges. It will bring together a diverse, multi-stakeholder community of international experts (academia, businesses and civil society), and will help to:
- Establish a robust, shared methodology for measuring the environmental impact of AI technologies;
- Create a global, open-access database where AI developers and researchers can contribute with data on the environmental performance of their models, fostering transparency and collaboration between businesses and research circles;
- Promote sustainable AI practices;
- Provide strategic analysis and disseminate knowledge;
- Bring together key stakeholders.
“At the ENS-PLS, we firmly believe that research and action must go hand in hand to drive positive change in our societies,” explains Anne Bouverot, Chairwoman of the ENS-PLS Board of Directors.
“This Observatory is the bridge between the two and is part of our commitment to provide informed solutions to public and private institutions on artificial intelligence and its impact,” adds Marc Mézard, Chairman of the AI and Society Institute.
“Today, companies are looking for efficiency gains, yet very large AI models not only entail a significant environmental footprint, but also higher costs,” says Etienne Grass, Managing Director of Capgemini Invent France. “To harness the power of this technology responsibly, it is essential to put in place clear and transparent methodologies, and to work with all players in the AI value chain.”
