Following on from ESG Calculations for AI Usage, I decided to create the calculator in Excel. It’s been an interesting experience.
Part of the challenge is the lack of data, notably around efficiency gains, average carbon impact for journeys, and carbon per query when taking into account training emissions.
What’s the purpose?
There are two goals to the spreadsheet
- To provide input for Scope 3 emissions resulting from gen-AI
- To provide input for discussions on the relative environmental impact of using gen-AI for generating code
What is the calculator?
The Gen AI Carbon excel file has multiple tabs, focussed on two main sheets: Calculator and Coding
The Calculator is the overview bringing together all the calculations from the other sheets and providing input for scope 3 returns.
Coding is the sheet to handle specific use of gen-ai for code generation. This one is integrated to Ways of Working sheet, which allows for modelling remote, office and hybrid scenarios. These scenarios weren’t added to the main calculation since it’s expected that organisations are already calculating for those emissions.
Issues
However, there are some issues described in the intro sheet. Feel free to use it at your own risk, but DO NOT EXPECT to simply input your own figures. There’s a bit of fixing the calculations to make it work properly.
Why aren’t I providing this completely working?
I started this to answer a question regarding at what point does using Gen-AI for coding become environmentally irresponsible. I settled on carbon rather than water or other factors as in indicator. I figure out enough for me to understand that assuming productivity gains can be realised, then there’s a net benefit to using Gen-AI for coding. The minor errors left in the calculations were not of sufficient size to deflect that result. So I’m comfortable. However, I can see it also being of use to others.