Artificial Intelligence: Emissions
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Excerpts(2 weeks ago)
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Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)
The question of renewable energy is of course an important one. Last year, 50% of the energy was provided by renewables, about 30% from gas and the rest from nuclear and other sources, and, as I said, the consumption of energy by AI and data centres will not rise to about more than about 10% of that under current projections. It is the case that many places across the UK have expressed an interest in becoming an AI growth zone. It is also the case that many data centre providers are interested in coming to the UK, so there is a good chance of getting a large number of data centres here in the UK.
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)
My Lords, is the Minister aware that, contrary to the previous question, AI itself is concerned about the amount of electricity it is using and that, if questioned, it has a long list of possible solutions to try to find a way through and to reduce the amount of electricity that it is using? Is it not a fact that, if we spend a little bit more time getting a little closer to the Chinese, we might find ways in which we can save even more electricity in this area?
Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)
I think it is the case that AI is going to be very important in reducing energy consumption across a number of industries. Estimates suggest that, even factoring in the increased amount of energy consumed by data centres and AI, the reductions in use as a result of applying AI to a number of industries and elsewhere could outweigh that increase. So this is a complex picture, where AI itself will be part of the solution.
Medical Research Charities
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Excerpts(1 year, 10 months ago)
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Viscount Camrose (Con)
Yes, indeed, I will be very happy to take that back. As I say, for the Government, the preferred outcome of the negotiations is to associate with Horizon on fair and appropriate terms.
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)
In response to the question from my noble friend, the Minister was reasonably confident that we would move forward, but subject to “fair and appropriate terms”. Would he care to define to the House a little more clearly what those are?
Viscount Camrose (Con)
At the risk of testing the House’s patience, I cannot describe what our negotiating goals are for fear of prejudicing the outcome of the negotiations.