- Swimlane survey shows many companies are not keeping track of AI energy needs
- Nearly three-quarters are aware of the dramatic energy requirements needed to train AI models
- Only 13% actively monitor AI energy consumption, which may indicate most used off-premise facilities
As the transition from simple algorithms to advanced models significantly increases energy demand, the adoption of agent AI, known for its advanced decision-making abilities, increases concerns over energy consumption, new research has claimed.
A survey conducted by SambaNova Systems, which sampled over 2000 business leaders from the US and Europe, found that 70% of business leaders are aware of the significant energy requirements of training models for AI tools, but only 13% monitor the power consumption of their AI systems.
At the same time, 37.2% of companies face increasing stakeholder pressure to improve energy efficiency, and 42% expect these demands to intensify.
Challenges with AI energy requirements
Rising energy costs have become a significant challenge, with 20.3% of companies identifying them as a pressing issue.
Fortunately, 77.4% of companies are actively exploring ways to reduce power consumption by optimizing their models, using energy-efficient hardware and investing in renewable energy solutions.
However, these efforts are not keeping pace with the rapid expansion of AI systems, leaving many companies vulnerable to rising costs and sustainability pressures.
“The results reveal a stark reality: Companies are rushing to adopt AI but are not prepared to manage its energy impact,” said Rodrigo Liang, SambaNova Systems’ CEO.
“Without a proactive approach to more efficient AI hardware and power consumption, especially in light of increasing demand from AI workflows, we risk undermining the very advances AI promises to deliver,” he added.
“By 2027, my expectation is that more than 90% of executives will be concerned about AI’s power needs. As companies integrate AI, addressing energy efficiency and infrastructure readiness will be critical to long-term success.”
