Behind the bright screens and smart algorithms lies massive energy consumption. Data centers are rapidly increasing global electricity use, while tech giants struggle against time in the race for sustainability.
When we think of technology, we usually picture bright screens, fast applications, and AI miracles. But behind this shiny surface lies an enormous hunger for energy. Today, data centers alone consume about 1.5% of global electricity. With the AI wave, this share is climbing even higher.
According to reports from the International Energy Agency, electricity consumption in data centers is expected to nearly double by 2030. This is a serious warning not only in terms of carbon emissions but also for countries’ energy security and infrastructure planning.
The problem is this: training and running AI systems require enormous computing power. Training a single large language model can equal the annual electricity consumption of a small country. Cloud services, gaming platforms, and streaming services only add to the burden.
Companies are not without options. They are trying to curb this hunger through more efficient server architectures, methods to shrink AI models, the use of renewable energy, and the recovery of waste heat. Giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have already announced carbon-neutral targets for 2030. But the critical question remains can these goals keep pace with the speed of technological growth?
Sustainable technology is no longer a choice but a necessity. Otherwise, the conveniences brought by digitalization will be overshadowed by an energy bill the planet cannot bear. In the coming years, technology news will not only be about new devices but also about what these devices are costing the world.