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Google's greenhouse gas emissions have grown tremendously, surging 48% in the past five years thanks to the expansion of data centers that power its AI tools.
In its annual environmental report, released Tuesday, Google says its pollution equated to 14.3 million tonnes of carbon equivalent in 2023, an increase of 13% over the previous year.
According to Google, the increase shows "the challenge of reducing emissions" while trying to build large language models, which require substantial resources to operate.
"While scaling these AI applications and finding new ways to use AI to accelerate climate action is crucial, we're also working to manage the environmental impact associated with it responsibly," the report says.
Google aims to achieve "net zero" in emissions by 2030, which the report acknowledges is a "bold goal." Google says it's "working to reduce the embodied carbon impact of growing machine learning demand at our data centers by optimizing machine placement, promoting the reuse and upcycling of technical infrastructure hardware, and collaborating with organizations like Building Transparency and the iMasons Climate Accord."
In May, Microsoft revealed its emissions spiked by 29% last year, and it used 23% more water in 2023, primarily due to "new technologies, including generative AI."