Microsoft pledged to combat climate change — then genAI emerged
Soon emerges a significant challenge for nuclear power. The technology utilized for producing fuel for nuclear facilities also has the potential for making nuclear armaments — and nuclear facilities are particularly vulnerable.
Soon emerges a significant challenge for nuclear power. The technology utilized for producing fuel for nuclear facilities also has the potential for making nuclear armaments — and nuclear facilities are particularly vulnerable. The Union of Concerned Scientists cautions: “The NRC [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] has consistently underestimated the risk of nuclear terrorism, easing its security exercise standards in response to industry demands for reduced expenses.”
GenAI and ecological concerns
The utilization of nuclear power isn’t the solitary environmental predicament brought about by the ascent of genAI tools and platforms such as Microsoft’s Copilot. This is due to the fact that genAI necessitates extensive amounts of computing power in contrast to traditional technologies. Initially, genAI needs to undergo training. Subsequently, it executes intricate computations to manage each incoming solicitation. Consequently, this necessitates the construction of substantial data centers that consume massive amounts of electricity.
Scientific American discloses that researchers affirm OpenAI’s GPT-3, the foundation of Copilot, “possesses 175 billion parameters, requiring 1,287 megawatt hours of electricity and generating 552 tons of carbon dioxide equivalency, analogous to 123 gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles driven over the course of a year. And this is only for the preparatory phase before any end-users begin utilizing it.”
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