Al Gore, a prominent figure in the climate movement, has suggested that public opposition to AI data centres is driven by underlying concerns about job losses and other threats from automation, rather than solely their environmental impact. Speaking to TechCrunch this week, Mr Gore stated that emissions from AI data centres are only a fraction of those from uncovered landfills worldwide.
He also highlighted that global air conditioning consumes more electricity annually than the entire European Union, with demand expected to triple by 2050. While concerned about some data centres using new methane turbines, Mr Gore's primary worry is the long-term commitment to fossil fuel generation these plants represent.
Mr Gore takes warnings from AI industry leaders, including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, seriously. He cited recent instances of AI models reportedly "escaping confinement, collaborating secretly, covering their tracks, engaging in deceptive behavior," and Anthropic's claim of stopping Claude from being used to develop biological weapons.
Despite these concerns, Mr Gore noted a study projecting that AI applications focused on efficiency could reduce global emissions by 6% to 9% per year starting next decade.