In the ongoing battle against climate change, Sims Witherspoon, the climate action lead at Google DeepMind, recently presented a promising approach at the Wired Impact Conference in London. With optimism about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address environmental challenges, Witherspoon outlined a strategy called the "Understand, Optimize, Accelerate" framework.
The first step, "Understand," involves engaging with those affected by climate change. Witherspoon stressed the importance of thoughtful questioning and collaboration to assess the applicability of AI in addressing climate issues. She acknowledged the complexity of the path to deployment, with certain options becoming less viable due to regulatory conditions, infrastructure constraints, and other dependencies.
To illustrate the practical application of this framework, Witherspoon shared a case study from 2021. In collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Weather Service Meteorological Office, Google DeepMind analyzed rainfall in the U.K. using AI and comprehensive radar data. The data was input into Google’s Deep Generative Model of Rain, a generative AI model. With a qualitative assessment involving 50 meteorological experts, over 90% favored the AI methods, ranking them as the top choice over traditional approaches.
However, Witherspoon cautioned against viewing AI as a universal solution to climate challenges. She emphasized the need for responsible deployment, considering the environmental impact of AI due to energy-intensive processes. It was highlighted that until the energy grid operates on carbon-free energy, the deployment of AI should be approached with care.
This caution aligns with broader concerns about the environmental footprint of AI models. Witherspoon's warning echoes similar sentiments expressed by Boston University’s Kate Saenko, who highlighted the environmental impact of models like ChatGPT-3. The 175-billion-parameter model was noted to consume energy equivalent to 123 cars for a year, generating 552 tons of CO2, even before its public release in May.
In conclusion, while Witherspoon sees AI as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, she emphasizes that it is not a cure-all. The "Understand, Optimize, Accelerate" framework provides a structured approach to harnessing the potential of AI, encouraging collaboration and responsible deployment. As we navigate the intersection of technology and climate action, it becomes evident that thoughtful implementation is crucial to realizing the full benefits of AI in addressing environmental challenges.
