$ cat ai-energy-consumption.json
title: AI Energy Consumption
category: web
client: Personal Project
date: March 2023
stack:A-FrameD3.js3D VisualizationData StorytellingJavaScript
Project Overview
An interactive 3D data visualization showcasing the global impact of AI's energy consumption and CO2 emissions across different countries and regions. Built using A-Frame and D3.js, this project combines immersive 3D graphics with data storytelling to highlight the rising energy demands associated with AI technologies.
Situation
• Overview
As AI technologies continue to advance and become more widespread, their energy consumption and environmental impact are growing concerns that often go unnoticed by the general public and even many technology professionals.
• Challenge
Presenting complex environmental data in an engaging, accessible way is difficult. Traditional charts and graphs often fail to convey the scale and significance of the issue in a way that resonates with viewers.
• Context
The rise of AI models with billions of parameters has led to exponential growth in computing requirements, with corresponding increases in energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Task
• Overview
The goal was to create an interactive 3D visualization that makes abstract data about AI energy consumption tangible and impactful for users.
• Educational Objective
Raise awareness about the environmental impact of AI technologies in an engaging, interactive format.
• Technical Objective
Combine web-based 3D visualization with accurate data representation to create an immersive learning experience.
Action
1. Research & Data Collection
Gathered and analyzed data on AI energy consumption across different countries and regions, focusing on both training and inference phases of AI systems.
2. Technical Implementation
Developed a web-based 3D visualization using A-Frame for the immersive environment and D3.js for data binding and manipulation. Created custom shaders and animations to represent energy consumption patterns.
3. User Experience Design
Designed an intuitive interface that allows users to explore the data from different perspectives, with interactive elements that reveal additional information and context.
Result
• Engaging Visualization
Created a compelling 3D experience that transforms abstract data into a visually striking representation of AI's environmental impact.
• Educational Tool
The project serves as both a data visualization and an educational resource, helping users understand the environmental implications of AI advancement.
• Technical Achievement
Successfully integrated complex 3D graphics with data visualization techniques in a web-based application that performs well across different devices.