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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Viseur, Robert, Jullien, Nicolas
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.21419
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author Viseur, Robert
Jullien, Nicolas
author_facet Viseur, Robert
Jullien, Nicolas
contents The rise of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has led to alarming predictions about its environmental impact. However, these predictions often overlook the fact that the diffusion of innovation is accompanied by the evolution of products and the optimization of their performance, primarily for economic reasons. This can also reduce their environmental impact. By analyzing the GAI ecosystem using the classic A-U innovation diffusion model, we can forecast this industry's structure and how its environmental impact will evolve. While GAI will never be green, its impact may not be as problematic as is sometimes claimed. However, this depends on which business model becomes dominant.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_21419
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Is the future of AI green? What can innovation diffusion models say about generative AI's environmental impact?
Viseur, Robert
Jullien, Nicolas
Artificial Intelligence
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has led to alarming predictions about its environmental impact. However, these predictions often overlook the fact that the diffusion of innovation is accompanied by the evolution of products and the optimization of their performance, primarily for economic reasons. This can also reduce their environmental impact. By analyzing the GAI ecosystem using the classic A-U innovation diffusion model, we can forecast this industry's structure and how its environmental impact will evolve. While GAI will never be green, its impact may not be as problematic as is sometimes claimed. However, this depends on which business model becomes dominant.
title Is the future of AI green? What can innovation diffusion models say about generative AI's environmental impact?
topic Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.21419