The Environmental and Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI), including deep and machine learning, is deeply embedded in the physical world and presents governance issues related to environmental impact, governance structures, transparency and accountability, and education and awareness-raising. Thus, AI’s future development implies increasing demands for energy and rare-earth metals and other resources. Increasing energy demands will put a strain on the green transition and renewable energy supplies. The mining and processing of the necessary raw materials can damage the environment, disproportionately in the global South. The G20 should ensure that AI’s benefits do not accrue to the global North while the costs fall disproportionately on the global South. It should convene a commission of experts and government and industry representatives to explore AI’s energy and environmental costs. The commission should make recommendations on ensuring an equitable share of costs and benefits between the global North and the global South, underlining globally acceptable environmental and ethical standards.