By MICHAEL CIRCLE
The Data Group News Service
A new study reveals that information technology managers in New Zealand are largely unaware of the significant energy demands and sustainability impacts of artificial intelligence adoption.
The report, released Tuesday by Pure Storage and the University of Technology Sydney's Institute for Sustainable Futures, highlights a disconnect between the rapid growth of AI and its environmental consequences.
While 72% of surveyed IT managers have either adopted or are piloting AI technologies, 53% are unsure how much energy consumption would increase with AI deployment. This uncertainty comes as global AI computational power requirements are doubling approximately every 100 days.
The study also found that despite having authority to influence sustainability initiatives, IT managers are relatively less engaged in energy and sustainability issues. Only 4% have adopted strategies to limit AI usage to offset energy consumption.
Sam Schuurman, New Zealand Country Manager for Pure Storage, emphasized the need for a broader discussion on balancing AI adoption with environmental goals.
"This timely report from the ISF should serve as a starting point for an economy-wide discussion in New Zealand around how we manage the pace of development with its impact on environmental sustainability," Schuurman said.
The report comes as New Zealand's data center industry experiences rapid growth, with a compound annual growth rate of up to 17%. Globally, data centers currently account for about 4% of greenhouse gas emissions, a figure likely to rise with increased AI adoption.
The study also identified employee skills in AI technology as the most overlooked issue in AI deployment, according to 58% of respondents.
Learn more about Pure Storage by visiting Pure Storage Press Releases | Pure Storage.
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