Artificial Intelligence Era: A New Race in Energy and Raw Materials
The rapidly growing use of artificial intelligence brings new challenges for energy and raw materials. The uninterrupted energy needs of data centers and the increase in demand for critical metals require cross-sector solutions. Details are in our news.
In recent years, artificial intelligence technology has become a revolutionary force in every industry. Developers are eager to use this technology in every field, but the rapid rise of artificial intelligence brings with it some significant challenges. Foremost among them is the need for energy and raw materials on which these technologies rely.
Data centers are consuming huge amounts of electricity to support AI applications. This creates a paradox that threatens the transition to sustainable energy sources. The proliferation of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind clashes with data centers’ need for uninterrupted power. This is because these centers require very high and continuous power, especially for artificial intelligence operations. According to a study conducted last year, the energy consumption of data centers housing AI hardware could reach levels that will strain power generation capacities in the near future.
Raw Materials: The New Gold Rush
Another important requirement of AI technology is critical metals. Speaking at a recent event, White House energy advisor Amos Hochstein said that the development of artificial intelligence technologies will lead to huge increases in the demand for critical metals, especially copper. These metals play a critical role in many areas, from power generation to transmission. The high-performance computers and other technological hardware required by artificial intelligence cannot be produced without using these metals.
This could trigger a new ‘gold rush’ in the mining industry. However, this process may also bring environmental and social problems. The expansion of mining activities poses new challenges in terms of sustainability and impacts on local communities.
Looking to the Future
Energy and raw material requirements are significant barriers to the sustainable development and implementation of AI. This calls for more integrated and innovative solutions between the energy sector, mining and technology companies. At the same time, governments and regulators need to play an active role in this process.
While AI has the potential to solve many of the problems societies face, it also has the capacity to create new problems of its own. Therefore, the changes that artificial intelligence will bring should be carefully monitored and managed by all sectors. In the future, a multidisciplinary approach will be essential to minimize the impacts and maximize the benefits of this technology.
