BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 8. The rapid
development of artificial intelligence (AI) is having negative
impacts on the environment, said Firudin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani
Deputy Minister of Science and Education, Trend reports.
In his speech at the scientific-practical conference on "The
role of artificial intelligence in combating climate change" at the
Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, and Ecology of the
parliament, Gurbanov noted the significant increase in data centers
for AI.
"In 2012, there were just 500,000 data centers worldwide, but
today their number has surged past 8 million, creating significant
environmental challenges. These centers consume massive amounts of
energy; by 2026, data centers in Ireland alone are expected to
account for 35 percent of the country’s energy use. Moreover,
producing just 2 kilograms of computers requires 800 kilograms of
raw materials, including rare elements, posing long-term risks to
the environment," he said.
The official articulated that the ministry's core mandate
revolves around the cultivation of expertise within this
domain.
"Another focus is conducting relevant scientific research. We
also run projects in schools to educate children about AI, and our
ecological schools provide students with essential knowledge on
these issues," Gurbanov said.
The Azerbaijani Parliament's Committee on Natural Resources,
Energy, and Ecology is holding a scientific-practical conference on
"The role of artificial intelligence in the fight against climate
change." Department heads of the Cabinet of Ministers, deputy
ministers, representatives of the Azerbaijan National Academy of
Sciences (ANAS), and other officials are participating in the
event.
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