El impacto ambiental de la inteligencia artificial: energía, agua y sostenibilidad

El impacto ambiental de la inteligencia artificial: energía, agua y sostenibilidad

Meteorology Matters is testing episodes in English and Spanish.

  • Seasons 1–100: English Episodes
  • Temporadas 101–200: Episodios en Español

La rápida integración de la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) en la vida cotidiana está impulsando una demanda creciente y sin precedentes de recursos computacionales, lo que genera una huella ambiental significativa y creciente. Este informe sintetiza datos clave sobre el consumo de energía y agua de la IA, su contribución a las emisiones de carbono y los residuos electrónicos, y las estrategias emergentes para mitigar estos impactos.

La principal carga ambiental de la IA reside en los enormes centros de datos necesarios para entrenar y operar sus modelos. Estas instalaciones consumieron el 4,4 % de la electricidad de EE. UU. en 2023, una cifra que se proyecta que se triplicará para 2028. A nivel mundial, el consumo de electricidad de los centros de datos se duplicará entre 2022 y 2026, alcanzando un nivel comparable al de todo Japón. Este aumento se debe principalmente a la IA generativa, que requiere energía constante y fiable, lo que aumenta la dependencia de los combustibles fósiles y obliga a ubicar los centros de datos en regiones con redes eléctricas con mayor contenido de carbono.

Más allá de la electricidad, la necesidad de agua de la IA para refrigerar su hardware está generando crisis agudas y localizadas. Los informes indican que el consumo de agua de las principales empresas tecnológicas ha aumentado hasta un 34 % en un solo año, lo que ha sobrecargado los suministros municipales, afectado a las comunidades locales y provocado protestas en regiones desde Estados Unidos hasta Sudamérica.

Un desafío crítico para abordar estos problemas es la falta generalizada de transparencia de las empresas tecnológicas, que tratan sus datos de consumo de recursos como secretos comerciales. Este enfoque de "caja negra" obstaculiza la regulación, la investigación y la rendición de cuentas públicas efectivas. En respuesta, están comenzando a surgir iniciativas legislativas y de estandarización en Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea para exigir la presentación de informes.

Si bien el costo energético de entrenar modelos como GPT-4 es inmenso (estimado en más de 50 gigavatios-hora), la mayor parte de la demanda energética de la IA (80-90 %) proviene ahora de la "inferencia", el uso diario de estos modelos por parte de miles de millones de usuarios. La trayectoria futura apunta a un consumo aún mayor, con el desarrollo de "agentes" de IA y "modelos de razonamiento" que podrían requerir órdenes de magnitud mayores de energía. Las soluciones propuestas se centran en una estrategia multifacética: desarrollar modelos y hardware de IA más eficientes, trasladar los centros de datos a fuentes de energía renovables y fomentar la investigación interdisciplinaria para guiar el desarrollo sostenible.

Episoder(210)

Hurricane Evacuation & Preparedness Tips, Even for Your  EV

Hurricane Evacuation & Preparedness Tips, Even for Your EV

As Milton heads toward Florida, here’s some guidance on preparing for the storm, particularly focusing on the potential dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Understanding and mitigating the risks of battery fires, especially when vehicles are damaged by floodwaters is important to your safety. Will give you some tips on food storage, water conservation, and securing important documents. We highlight the importance of having a plan for evacuating, staying safe, and ensuring access to essential services in the aftermath of a storm.

6 Okt 202412min

Rapid Intensification - Milton Forecast to be a Category 3 Hurricane

Rapid Intensification - Milton Forecast to be a Category 3 Hurricane

Tropical Storm Milton is strengthening rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to become a major hurricane by the middle of the week. The storm is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida, bringing the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds. Heavy rainfall is also expected to affect portions of Florida, leading to the risk of flooding. The storm's exact track and intensity remain uncertain, but there is growing concern about the potential for significant impacts on the Florida Peninsula.

6 Okt 202410min

Florida Expecting Impact from Hurricane Milton with Dangerous Storm Surge and 110 mph Winds

Florida Expecting Impact from Hurricane Milton with Dangerous Storm Surge and 110 mph Winds

Tropical Storm Milton is another rapidly developing tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that is expected to strengthen into Hurricane Milton and make landfall on the West Coast of Florida as a Category 2 hurricane around Wednesday. The forecast emphasizes the potential for significant storm surge and heavy rainfall, urging residents of Central and South Florida to stay informed and prepared. While the exact path and intensity of the storm are uncertain, remember that the effects can be for reaching from the center of the storm at landfall. There's also the increasing likelihood of a dangerous storm surge event along Florida's Gulf coast with some areas to be impacted already having been by hurricane Helene just a short time ago.

5 Okt 202413min

Growing Insurance Failures Take Spotlight After Hurricane Helene

Growing Insurance Failures Take Spotlight After Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene is a major disaster that highlights the growing economic risks associated with climate change. While the financial impact of the hurricane is significant, with estimates reaching over $100 billion with long-term implications for communities, businesses, and individuals. Climate change will increasingly lead to "known unknowns" - events that we know will happen but cannot predict their exact timing or location. Adaptation, investing in preventative measures, and the need for governments and companies to take proactive steps to mitigate the financial and social consequences of these events is vital to move forward.Suggested questions

5 Okt 20246min

Hurricane Helene’s Toxic Flood Waters

Hurricane Helene’s Toxic Flood Waters

There’s a hidden danger of toxic chemical releases from industrial facilities during hurricanes. Limited disclosure requirements and insufficient public information about these risks leave communities unprepared and unaware of the potential consequences. Red tide has been detected in Pinellas County waters following Hurricane Helene. This poses an additional health risk for residents already dealing with storm damage and cleanup, as red tide can cause respiratory problems and potentially harm marine life.

4 Okt 20247min

Hurricane Helene - HAARP Engineered and Steered to Wipe Out a Town

Hurricane Helene - HAARP Engineered and Steered to Wipe Out a Town

Conspiracy theories circulate about Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida in September 2024 and wreaked havoc upon upstate North Carolina. Some theories claim the hurricane was intentionally manipulated to impact Republican areas, while others suggest it was engineered to clear land for lithium mining. We also examine theories claiming the hurricane was created or guided by technology, such as HAARP, frequency transmitters, or cloud seeding. While lithium is on the mind of conspiracy theorist, a real life quartz mining facility has been severely impacted by Helene, which could cause supply chain disruptions for weeks or months.

4 Okt 202410min

Hurricane Ian: Investigation Shows Homeowners Insurance Companies Not Paying Up After 2 Years

Hurricane Ian: Investigation Shows Homeowners Insurance Companies Not Paying Up After 2 Years

A 60 Minutes report on insurer fraud in Florida following Hurricane Ian shows that numerous companies have systematically changed reports in order to deny homeowners of up to 90% of the payment they deserve after catastrophic losses. It focuses on the claims of several licensed adjusters, who allege that insurance carriers were purposefully altering damage reports to reduce payouts to homeowners. These adjusters claim that their reports were edited by desk adjusters who had never even visited the damaged properties, reducing the amount of money the homeowners received. The report alleges that this practice was widespread, affecting many homeowners who were left with significant damage and insufficient funds to repair their homes… and are still awaiting justice even today. While these charges have been presented to the Florida Attorney General’s office, they have failed to prosecute 2 years after Ian struck Southwest Florida in 2022.

3 Okt 202411min

Asheville - Climate Change “Safe Haven”?

Asheville - Climate Change “Safe Haven”?

We explore the devastating floods that hit Asheville, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene, challenging the city's former reputation as a "climate haven." It explains that climate change is making intense rainfall events more frequent and severe, leaving even high-elevation areas vulnerable. Climate change is exacerbating flooding risks across the United States, including in Appalachia, where the terrain amplifies the impact of heavy rains. We also compare the recent floods to the "Great Flood" of 1916, highlighting the catastrophic devastation caused by heavy rainfall and emphasizing the historical context of similar events in the region. Damage from Helene is extensive, causing significant problems with infrastructure and prompting relief efforts as the full extent of the impact still remains unknown.

3 Okt 202410min

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