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Samachar Manthan August Batch: UPSC Current Affairs program to ensure a Top 50 rank | Starts 12th August till UPSC Mains 2024 | Enrollment Open
If you’re a UPSC aspirant struggling to wrap your head around current affairs, this is for you. The new Batch starts on 12th August.
Enroll Samachar Manthan For UPSC 2024
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Are you weary of being engulfed in an ocean of pertinent and less pertinent news pieces while preparing yourself for the UPSC examination? The perpetual challenge of pinpointing where to direct your focus and perpetually striving to navigate through an endless stream of information to decipher what truly matters for the UPSC CSE.
Well, it’s time to say goodbye to the confusion, unawareness, and ignorance surrounding current affairs. Say hello to Samachar Manthan, a program that will help you build a solid command of your newspaper reading and current affairs analyzing skills.
Top Rankers of UPSC 2022
We’ve just launched a new batch of Samachar Manthan
Yes, you heard that right. Our flagship program is back, and it’s better than ever before. We’ve got a whole new team of UPSC current affairs experts senior mentors, fresh perspectives, and a ton of exciting new features to make your current affairs preparation journey smoother and more enjoyable.
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Civilsdaily Hall of Fame 2022 Here’s what you can expect from our new batch:
- A comprehensive weekly lecture series covering all the relevant current affairs topics, with a focus on interlinkages and analysis
- A set of the most well-designed and comprehensive notes you’ll find anywhere
- A weekly mains test with 10 questions to help you develop your writing skills and learn how to be precise
- Answer review to help you master the art of answer writing, with a set of 20 answer writing techniques that are the industry standard
- Monthly prelims tests with 100 questions that cover all the important terms in the news, and help you develop the Tikdam technique of smart guessing
- And last but not least, membership to the exclusive Samachar Manthan group, where you can ask us anything, anytime, and get access to 24×7 Q&A, discussion, and mentorship.
Why Samachar Manthan is unique and different:
- Samachar Manthan includes important phrases and quotes which can be used to enrich your answers writing for GS Mains
- Pre-made handy points for questions. you can directly use these points in your IR answers
- Recent Case Studies and Examples to enrich your Answers
- According to the changing trends of UPSC Prelims, Last minutes quick revision tables
- Samachar Manthan Lectures include current and contemporary affairs for the last 2-3 years.
Let’s talk results
- 87% of UPSC 2023 Prelims Questions were from CivilsDaily’s Current Affairs Test Series
- 100+ rankers vouch for the efficacy of Samachar Manthan, a result-oriented Current Affairs program
Samachar Manthan registered the highest turnout of UPSC rankers from any Current Affairs program available in the market
And if that’s not convincing enough, just watch the video below of AIR 2 Jagrati Awasthi, 49 Abhijit Ray, and many more, who will vouch for the efficacy of Samachar Manthan.
Schedule a FREE call to know how to cover the current affairs backlog for UPSC 2024 Prelims & Mains. We will be sharing a personalized strategy and timetable for you as per your UPSC preparation situation.
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Schedule a FREE call to know how to make current Affairs your strength
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But wait, there’s more! If you sign up now, you’ll get access to a ton of bonus features, including:
- Weekly current affairs quizzes to help you test your knowledge and retention abilities
- Expert guidance on how to interlink current affairs with the static syllabus
- Tips and tricks to help you cover current affairs more efficiently, without sacrificing your overall preparation schedule
- And so much more!
Experienced Faculties
The current affairs team has just one purpose- Making current affairs prep effective, simple, integrated and wholesome.
UPSC’22 Ranker, Dimple Chouhan is a senior IAS faculty at CivilsDaily. She has been mentoring UPSC aspirants for 4 years now and has mentored 150+ aspirants to Prelims success.
Sudhanshu sir has 8 years of experience in Ministry of Defence and has been mentoring students for 4 years now.
We have Venus ma’am and Jatin sir in Samachar Manthan team as well who have been teaching and mentoring UPSC aspirants for 3 years respectively.
To ensure an integrated preparation and a syllabus-centric approach to current affairs, Samachar Manthan, CivilsDaily’s flagship Current Affairs program for the UPSC-CSE exam has launched the second batch.
Samachar Manthan new batch for UPSC 2024 aspirants (click)
Samachar Manthan Batch 2 for UPSC CSE 2024
This is going to be a special batch as the focus would be on two things:
- Covering the backlog from June 2024 to the current month along with answer writing and note making.
- Side by side continuing and covering the current issues for Prelims and Mains 2024.
Because Samachar Manthan is a weekly current affairs program, we will design it for you to cover multiple weeks of current affairs in a single week. For example, Week 1 (the first weeks of June 2023) will be paired with SM Week 39. (current weeks).
Schedule a FREE call to know how to cover the current affairs backlog for UPSC 2024 Prelims and Mains.
We will be sharing a personalized strategy and timetable for you as per your UPSC preparation situation.
Samachar Manthan Yearly for UPSC CSE 2024
This will be the full-fledged batch of UPSC 2024 aspirants that will continue till Mains.
Click & schedule 1-1 FREE call for Current Affairs Strategy
This is what our students have to say about Samachar Manthan.
Feedback from our students. Our ex-students are now rankers.
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Schedule a FREE call to learn how to cover the current affairs backlog for UPSC 2024. We will be sharing a personalized strategy and timetable for you as per your UPSC preparation situation.
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ISRO Rocket Debris on Australian Shore
Central Idea
- A couple of weeks ago, a large object discovered on the shores of Western Australia has been confirmed to be the debris of an ISRO rocket used for IRNSS constellation.
- The incident raises concerns about space debris and its potential impact on Earth and its inhabitants.
Frequency and Risks of Space Junk
- Common Occurrences: Incidents of space debris falling back to Earth are not uncommon. Most instances involve relatively small fragments that survive atmospheric friction, typically not making significant news.
- Publicized Instances: However, there have been a few highly publicized falls, such as a 25-tonne Chinese rocket chunk falling into the Indian Ocean in May 2021 and the disintegration of the Skylab space station in 1979, with some fragments landing in Western Australia.
How did ISRO debris land in Australia?
- Probable Re-entry and Ocean Drift: The debris likely remained unburnt while dropping back into the atmosphere during re-entry and eventually fell into the ocean. Ocean currents may have carried it towards the Australian shores.
- Move for disposal: The Australian Space Agency is working with ISRO to determine the next steps, including considering obligations under the United Nations space treaties.
Potential Hazards and Impact
- Threat to Life and Property: The threat to life and property from falling space junk cannot be ignored. Even objects falling into oceans can pose risks to marine life and contribute to pollution.
- Recorded Incidents: So far, there are no recorded incidents of falling space objects causing significant damage on Earth. Instances of debris falling over land have generally occurred in uninhabited areas.
International Regulations and Liability
- Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects: International regulations, such as this Convention, govern issues related to space debris falling back to Earth.
- Absolute Liability: The launching country is “absolutely liable” to pay compensation for any damage caused by its space object on Earth or to a flight in the air.
- Compensation Provision: In the current case, if the PSLV debris had caused any damage in Australia, India could have been liable to pay compensation, regardless of it falling into the ocean first.
- Past Compensation: The Convention has resulted in compensation payment only once when Canada sought damages from the Soviet Union for a satellite with a radioactive substance falling into its uninhabited northern territory in 1978. The Soviet Union paid 3 million Canadian dollars as compensation.
Liability Convention, 1972
- What is it? The Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, often referred to as the Liability Convention, is indeed an important international treaty in the field of space law.
- Primary Objective: The main purpose of the convention is to provide a legal framework for dealing with liability arising from damage caused by space objects on Earth’s surface or in outer space.
- Adoption and Entry into Force: The Liability Convention was adopted on March 29, 1972, and it became effective on September 1, 1972. It is one of the 5 UN treaties that pertain to space law.
- Liability of Launching States: The convention holds the launching state (internationally liable for any damage caused by its space objects on Earth’s surface or to aircraft in flight.
- Applicability: The convention applies to both governmental and non-governmental entities involved in launching space objects.
- Strict Liability: It establishes strict liability for the launching state, meaning that it is held responsible for damages caused by its space object regardless of fault or negligence.
- Limitation of Liability: The liability of the launching state is subject to a limitation. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the cap was set at 60 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), a monetary unit used by the International Monetary Fund.
- Liability for Unauthorized Launches: Even if a space object is owned by a private entity or a state that did not authorize the launch, the launching state is still liable unless it can demonstrate that it was not at fault.
- Scope of Application: It deals specifically with damage caused by space objects to the Earth’s surface and aircraft in flight. For damage to other space objects or personnel on space objects, liability is governed by the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
ISRO’s Efforts to Mitigate Space Debris
- Unique Scientific Experiment: ISRO successfully conducted a dedicated commercial mission, placing seven Singaporean satellites into intended orbits on board a PSLV rocket.
- Orbit-lowering Experiment: During this mission, ISRO performed a unique experiment, lowering the fourth stage of the rocket into a 300 km high orbit after placing customer satellites at an altitude of 536 km to mitigate space debris concerns.
- Reducing Debris Duration: Thanks to the orbit-lowering experiment, the duration of the stage in space has been significantly reduced to “two months.”
- Objectives of the Experiment: The experiment aims to address space debris mitigation problems and preserve valuable orbits for future satellite deployments.
Conclusion
- The incident of India’s space debris washing ashore in Australia highlights the importance of managing space debris to ensure the safety of Earth and its inhabitants.
- ISRO’s efforts to mitigate space debris through conscious measures demonstrate responsible space exploration practices.
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Cabinet approves ₹1.39 lakh crore for BharatNet project
Central Idea
- The Cabinet has given its approval for an outlay of ₹1.39 lakh crore for the BharatNet project, aimed at providing last-mile connectivity to around 6.4 lakh villages across India.
About BharatNet Project
- Objectives: The project aims to connect 6.4 lakh villages, covering all gram panchayats in the country, with last-mile broadband connectivity through optical fiber.
- Implementation: Bharat Broadband Network (BBNL), a special purpose vehicle under Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), is responsible for executing the project.
- Tie-up with VLEs: BBNL will collaborate with village level entrepreneurs (VLEs) to provide connectivity, following a successful pilot project in four districts and later expanded to 60,000 villages.
- Progress So Far: As of now, around 1.94 lakh villages have been connected, and the rest are expected to be covered in the next 2.5 years.
Services details
BharatNet is the world’s largest rural connectivity scheme with an Optical Fibre network.
- Gram Panchayat: The scheme aimed to provide 100 Mbps broadband to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats.
- Households: The main goal is affordable 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps broadband for all households, especially in rural areas.
Key Achievements of the Project
- Broadband Connections: The pilot project involved 3,800 entrepreneurs providing 3.51 lakh broadband connections to villages.
- Data Consumption: Households in connected villages recorded an average data consumption of 175 gigabytes per month.
- Pricing and Speed: The project is based on a 50% revenue share between BBNL and VLEs, offering monthly broadband plans priced from ₹399 to ₹799 with a minimum speed of 30mbps.
- Optical Fiber Laid: Currently, there are 37 lakh route kilometers (rkm) of optical fiber cable (OFC) laid in India, with BBNL contributing 7.7 lakh rkm OFC to the network.
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Species in news: Indian Eagle Owl
Central Idea
- The Indian eagle owl was recently classified species distinct from the Eurasian eagle owl.
Indian Eagle-Owl
- The Indian eagle-owl or rock eagle-owl, is a large horned owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent.
- It is splashed with brown and grey, and has a white throat patch with black small stripes.
- Conservation Status: Least Concerned (IUCN), Appendix II (CITES)
Key features
- Distinct Species: Classified separately from the Eurasian eagle-owl, the Indian eagle-owl stands out with its imposing size, reaching up to two and a half feet in length and six feet in wingspan.
- Nocturnal Secrets: Due to its nocturnal nature, limited knowledge is available about the bird, contributing to its aura of mystery.
- Menacing Appearance: Prominent ear tufts resembling horns may have evolved to deter predators, giving the bird a threatening appearance.
Threats from Superstitions
- In rural India, the bird is considered a bearer of ill omens, and its loud double-hoot calls are linked to superstitions.
- Folklore suggests that when trapped and starved, the Indian eagle-owl could speak in a human voice, foretelling the future of its listeners.
Ecological significance
- The Indian eagle owl’s diet of rodents, including rats and bandicoots, aligns well with open scrublands and agricultural regions, making it beneficial for farmers.
- Owls nesting near agricultural lands have shown higher numbers of healthier owlets due to the abundance of rodents.
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Species in news: Clouded Leopards
Central Idea
- International Clouded Leopard Day has been celebrated on 4th August since 2018.
- Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have conducted a study on clouded leopards in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in western Assam.
About Clouded Leopard
- The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a wild cat found in dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas to mainland Southeast Asia and South China.
- It has large dusky-grey blotches and irregular spots and stripes on a dark grey or ochreous fur, resembling clouds, hence its name.
- It is the first cat that genetically diverged from the common ancestor of the pantherine cats around 9.32 to 4.47 million years ago.
- Currently, the clouded leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- It is listed in CITES Appendix I, and protected in most of its range.
Habitat in India
- It inhabits dense forests in states such as Sikkim, northern West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- It is the State animal of Meghalaya (Note: Clouded Leopard National Park is located in Tripura).
Features of Clouded Leopards
- The mainland clouded leopard is agile and strong, often compared to the Ice Age sabretooth due to its large canines.
- It has rotating rear ankles that enable it to climb down headfirst from trees, distinguishing it from other felines.
- The cat has cloud-like spots on its hide, making it easily identifiable.
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Perucetus Colossus Whale: Heaviest Animal that Ever Lived
Central Idea
- Scientists have unearthed fossils of an ancient giant whale species named Perucetus colossus in Peru.
- With each vertebra weighing over 100 kgs and ribs measuring nearly 5 feet long, this colossal whale poses a potential contender for the title of the heaviest animal to have ever lived.
About Perucetus Colossus Whale
- Discovery: Fossils of Perucetus colossus (lived approximately 39 million years ago) were found more than a decade ago in Peru’s Ica desert, a region known for its rich marine fossils.
- Enormous Size: The whale’s estimated length was around 66 feet (20 meters), shorter than some blue whales that grow over 100 feet.
- Unique Weight: The ancient giant’s dense and heavy bones contributed to its impressive estimated weight, making it a slow swimmer, most likely dwelling in shallow, coastal waters.
- Feeding Habits: Without the discovery of the skull, scientists are uncertain about the whale’s diet, speculating it may have scavenged on the seafloor or consumed vast amounts of krill and other marine organisms.
Significance
- Heaviest Known Animal: If confirmed, Perucetus colossus could surpass the blue whale’s title as the heaviest known animal, living or extinct.
- Evolutionary Significance: The species highlights the capacity of evolution to generate organisms with characteristics beyond human imagination.
- Paleontological Mystery: The absence of skull and tooth remains leaves the feeding behavior and ecological role of this ancient giant open to further investigation.
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Lowering the Minimum Age for Contesting Elections
Central Idea
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended lowering the minimum age for contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to 18 years, aligning it with the minimum age for voting in India.
- The Committee believes that young individuals can be responsible political participants, supported by global practices and increasing political consciousness among youth.
Current Minimum Age Requirements
- Lok Sabha and Assembly Polls: According to Article 84 of the Indian Constitution and Section 36 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person must be at least 25 years old to contest elections to the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly.
- Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council: As per Article 80(4) of the Constitution and Section 43 of the RP Act, 1951, a person must be at least 30 years old to become a member of the Rajya Sabha or the State Legislative Council.
Parliamentary Committee’s View
- Evidence from Global Practices: The Committee cited examples from countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where young individuals have proven to be reliable and responsible political participants.
- Youth Representation: It supported lowering the minimum age for candidacy, citing global practices and the increasing political consciousness among young people. It believes that young individuals are more than capable of running for office in the 21st century due to increased education, globalization, and digitalization.
- Age Disparity: The Committee expressed concern over the significant age gap between MPs and India’s median age, highlighting the need for greater youth representation.
- Diverse Viewpoints: The Committee contends that reducing the minimum age would bring fresh perspectives to policy debates and address the underrepresentation of young voices in the political arena.
Election Commission’s Perspective
- Unrealistic Expectations: The EC disagrees with the proposal, stating that expecting 18-year-olds to possess the necessary experience and maturity for parliamentary responsibilities is unrealistic.
- Current Age Requirements Appropriate: EC believes that the existing minimum age requirements for voting and contesting elections are appropriate.
Recommended Actions
- Delimitation Process: The Committee recommends that the EC collaborates with the legislative department to examine the effects of the delimitation process, especially in challenging terrains. Treating all regions in India as identical may pose risks, and tailored measures should be taken to address this reality.
- Common Electoral Rolls: The Committee highlights the benefits of Common Electoral Rolls for State and Lok Sabha polls, which can be created through the collaborative participation of officials serving in both the ECI and State ECs.
Conclusion
- The debate on lowering the minimum age for contesting elections continues, with the Parliamentary Standing Committee favouring this move, considering global practices and youth representation.
- Further discussions and careful consideration are needed to make an informed decision on this matter.
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In news: Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Central Idea
- Pakistan’s Senate has approved a bill to establish a central authority to combat money laundering and terror financing by bringing all institutions related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) under one command.
What is FATF?
- The FATF is an intergovernmental organization established in 1989 to combat money laundering and financial crimes.
- Pakistan’s efforts to address money laundering and terror financing led to its inclusion in the FATF grey list in 2018.
- However, through comprehensive reforms and strategic measures, Pakistan successfully managed to exit the grey list.
- The country’s progress in enhancing laws related to money laundering and terrorism financing played a crucial role in achieving this milestone.
Role of FATF
- Global Financial Crimes Combat: FATF develops policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in response to the rise of the global economy and international trade.
- Regulatory Recommendations: The organization makes recommendations to combat financial crime, reviews members’ policies and procedures, and promotes the acceptance of anti-money laundering regulations worldwide.
- Continuous Updates: To stay ahead of evolving financial crime techniques, FATF updates its recommendations regularly.
Key initiatives: Grey and Black Lists
- Grey List: Countries considered safe havens for supporting terror funding and money laundering are placed in the FATF grey list. Inclusion in this list serves as a warning for potential entry into the more severe blacklist.
- Black List (Call for Action): The “Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories” (NCCTs) list, commonly known as the black list, identifies countries that are non-compliant with FATF’s recommendations.
Impact of Being on FATF Grey List
- Economic Sanctions and Reduced Trade: Countries on the grey list may face economic sanctions and reduced international trade opportunities.
- Difficulty in Obtaining Loans: Access to loans from international financial institutions like IMF, World Bank, and ADB may be limited.
- International Boycott: The country may face international boycotts affecting its global reputation.
What has Pakistan initiated now?
- Establishing the Authority: The bill seeks to create a National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Authority, which will be led by a chairman appointed by the Prime Minister.
- Coordination and Cooperation: The authority will act as a focal point for the FATF and related organizations.
- Unified Response: The proposed authority will function as a focal institution, enabling Pakistan to provide a unified response to money laundering and terror financing.
- Institutionalization of Entities: The bill seeks to institutionalize different entities, leading to improved efficiency and coordination in dealing with financial threats.
Challenges Addressed
- 3 Arenas of Difficulty: The bill addresses difficulties related to anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and targeted financial sanctions faced by Pakistan when on the FATF grey list.
- Global Financial System Threats: Money laundering and terror financing were identified as severe threats to the global financial system when Pakistan was placed on the FATF grey list in 2018.
FATF Review and India’s Position
- Multifaceted Review: The FATF review assesses 40 parameters related to law, justice, revenue, banking, and insurance, along with nine parameters related to terror financing.
- Review Timeframe: The review began early this year and is expected to conclude by the end of 2024, with India being a rare country to have postponed its review due to COVID-19.
Conclusion
- The FATF plays a crucial role in combating financial crimes, including money laundering and terror financing.
- By taking significant steps to address deficiencies, Pakistan can manage to sustain its goal of exiting the grey list.
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AI and the environment: What are the pitfalls?
What’s the news?
- The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing unprecedented growth, largely driven by the excitement surrounding innovative tools like ChatGPT. AI systems are already a big part of our lives, helping governments, industries, and regular people be more efficient and make data-driven decisions. But there are some significant downsides to this technology.
Central idea
- As tech giants race to develop more sophisticated AI products, global investment in the AI market has surged to $142.3 billion and is projected to reach nearly $2 trillion by 2030. However, this boom in AI technology comes with a significant carbon footprint, which necessitates urgent action to mitigate its environmental impact.
Applications of AI
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): AI-powered NLP technologies have revolutionized human-computer interactions. Virtual assistants, chatbots, language translation, sentiment analysis, and content curation are some of the areas where NLP plays a vital role.
- Image and Video Analysis: AI’s capabilities in analyzing images and videos have led to breakthroughs in facial recognition, object detection, autonomous vehicles, and medical imaging.
- Recommendation Systems: AI-driven recommendation engines cater to personalized experiences in e-commerce, streaming services, and social media, providing users with tailored product and content suggestions.
- Predictive Analytics: AI excels at predictive analytics, enabling businesses to make informed decisions by analyzing historical data to forecast future trends in finance, supply chain management, risk assessment, and weather predictions.
- Healthcare and Medicine: AI’s potential in healthcare is immense. From medical diagnostics to drug discovery, patient monitoring, and personalized treatment plans, AI is driving significant advancements in the medical field.
- Finance and Trading: AI-driven algorithms are employed in algorithmic trading, fraud detection, credit risk assessment, and financial market analysis, optimizing financial processes.
- Autonomous Systems: AI powers autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots for various tasks, transforming transportation, delivery, surveillance, and exploration.
- Industrial Automation: AI-driven automation optimizes manufacturing and industrial processes, monitors equipment health, and enhances operational efficiency.
- Personalization and Customer Service: AI enables personalized customer experiences, with tailored recommendations, customer support chatbots, and virtual assistants that enhance customer satisfaction.
- Environmental Monitoring: AI contributes to environmental monitoring and analysis, including air quality assessment, climate pattern observation, and wildlife conservation efforts.
- Education and E-Learning: AI applications facilitate adaptive learning platforms, intelligent tutoring systems, and educational content curation, enhancing personalized learning experiences.
- Social Media and Content Moderation: AI plays a role in content moderation on social media platforms, identifying and addressing inappropriate content and detecting fake accounts or malicious activities.
- Legal and Compliance: AI assists legal professionals with contract analysis, legal research, and compliance monitoring, streamlining legal work.
- Public Safety and Security: AI finds use in surveillance systems, predictive policing, and emergency response systems, bolstering public safety efforts.
The Carbon Footprint of AI
- Data Processing and Training: The training phase of AI models requires processing massive amounts of data, often in data centers. This data crunching demands substantial computing power and is energy-intensive, contributing to AI’s carbon footprint.
- Global AI Market Value: The global AI market is currently valued at $142.3 billion (€129.6 billion), and it is expected to grow to nearly $2 trillion by 2030.
- Carbon Footprint of Data Centers: The entire data center infrastructure and data submission networks account for 2–4% of global CO2 emissions. While this includes various data center operations, AI plays a significant role in contributing to these emissions.
- Carbon Emissions from AI Training: In a 2019 study, researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, found that training a common large AI model can emit up to 284,000 kilograms (626,000 pounds) of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is nearly five times the emissions of a car over its lifetime, including the manufacturing process.
- AI Application Phase Emissions: The application phase of AI, where the model is used in real-world scenarios, can potentially account for up to 90% of the emissions in the life cycle of an AI.
Addressing AI’s carbon footprint
- Energy-Efficient Algorithms: Developing and optimizing energy-efficient AI algorithms and training techniques can help reduce energy consumption during the training phase. By prioritizing efficiency in AI model architectures and algorithms, less computational power is required, leading to lower carbon emissions.
- Renewable Energy Adoption: Encouraging data centers and AI infrastructure to transition to renewable energy sources can have a significant impact on AI’s carbon footprint. Utilizing solar, wind, or hydroelectric power to power data centers can help reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
- Scaling Down AI Models: Instead of continuously pursuing larger AI models, companies can explore using smaller models and datasets. Smaller AI models require less computational power, leading to lower energy consumption during training and deployment.
- Responsible AI Deployment: Prioritizing responsible and energy-efficient AI applications can minimize unnecessary AI usage and optimize AI systems for energy conservation.
- Data Center Location Selection: Choosing data center locations in regions powered by renewable energy and with cooler climates can further reduce AI’s carbon footprint. Cooler climates reduce the need for extensive data center cooling, thereby decreasing energy consumption.
- Collaboration and Regulation: Collaboration among tech companies, policymakers, and environmental organizations is crucial to establishing industry-wide standards and regulations that promote sustainable AI development. Policymakers can incentivize green practices and set emissions reduction targets for the AI sector.
Conclusion
- To build a sustainable AI future, environmental considerations must be integrated into all stages of AI development, from design to deployment. The tech industry and governments must collaborate to strike a balance between technological advancement and ecological responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.
