SIU Prof Lands Massive Grant to Tackle AI’s Carbon Footprint
In a remarkable and ambitious endeavor, Associate Professor Iraklis Anagnostopoulos from Southern Illinois University Carbondale has secured a whopping $588,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. What’s the mind-blowing goal? To make the ever-growing field of artificial intelligence (AI) more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Rapid expansion of the AI market has raised concerns about its impact on climate change. With the AI market projected to grow by a staggering tenfold in the next five years, something needs to be done. Anagnostopoulos is spearheading the effort to mitigate the environmental impact of AI and boost data processing efficiency.
So, what’s the problem exactly? The primary concern lies in the enormous amount of electricity required to power the data centers that house AI and big data operations. These data centers also generate a massive amount of heat, requiring additional energy for cooling. The network infrastructure contributes to the carbon footprint as well.
Anagnostopoulos’ research focuses on optimizing edge data centers, which are designed to be closer to end-users and use renewable energy sources. But it doesn’t stop there. He is also targeting “vertical solutions” to improve efficiency at every stage of the infrastructure. This includes harnessing renewable energy, enhancing power usage efficiency, and distributing workload strategically.
To further reduce the carbon footprint, Anagnostopoulos aims to downscale energy-efficient hardware accelerators. These specialized units are designed to perform specific functions more efficiently than a general-purpose central processing unit. By developing reliable hardware accelerators and effectively utilizing computing resources, energy-efficient data centers can become a reality.
The ultimate goal? Anagnostopoulos hopes that his research will drive a broader paradigm shift towards eco-friendly practices in the computing industry. By promoting sustainable practices, the entire digital infrastructure can transition to a greener and more sustainable future.
What do you think about this groundbreaking research? Can AI and big data become eco-friendly? Comment below and let us know your thoughts!
IntelliPrompt curated this article: Read the full story at the original source by clicking here