AI is often framed as a driver of efficiency and progress. But it also presents a profound sustainability challenge.

While high-performance computing (HPC) enables critical advances in climate modeling, drug discovery and renewable-energy development, it consumes staggering amounts of energy.

The tech sector already accounts for more than 3% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions, and the rapid rise of generative AI is poised to expand its carbon footprint and push power grids to their limits. Training Grok-4 alone reportedly required 310 gigawatt-hours of electricity — enough to power a town of 4,000. And Google’s AI could eventually consume as much electricity as all of Ireland.

© The Japan Times