Toward a Time-Aware Assessment Framework for the Carbon Cost of AI-Enabled Decarbonization

A new framework has been proposed to assess the carbon cost of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions used for decarbonization, particularly within the built environment. This framework addresses critical gaps in existing assessment methods by accounting for both AI-induced carbon emissions and the temporal mismatch between when AI costs are incurred and when decarbonization benefits are realized. It emphasizes a time-aware approach to model these emissions and benefits over a defined period.

This framework is strategically important because it provides a more accurate and holistic method for evaluating the true environmental impact of AI-driven decarbonization initiatives. It enables organizations to make better-informed investment decisions, ensuring that AI solutions genuinely contribute to sustainability goals rather than inadvertently increasing overall carbon footprints. Understanding the temporal dynamics of emissions and benefits is crucial for long-term strategic planning in climate mitigation.

AI is increasingly deployed to aid decarbonization efforts in the built environment.

Forward consideration, not a verified fact.