From Facebook to Climate: Why Meta’s Ex-CTO is Now Investing in Green Technologies
As a former chief technology officer at Meta, [NAME] has had a front-row seat to the tech industry’s rapid growth and evolution. But in recent years, he’s turned his attention to a new challenge: climate change. In this interview, [NAME] explains why he’s investing in green technologies and how he believes they can help mitigate the climate crisis.
A ‘Green Discount’ for Climate-Friendly Technologies
[NAME]’s investment strategy is centered around what he calls a ‘green discount.’ The idea is that by investing in climate-friendly technologies, we can reduce the cost of these technologies over time, making them more competitive with their polluting counterparts. But what about technologies that are currently more expensive than their alternatives? Does [NAME] avoid investing in these areas, or is he hopeful that costs will come down over time?
‘Technology takes time to develop, so no new technology is better, faster, or cheaper from the start,’ [NAME] explains. ‘But over the life cycle of a company, five to ten years, I have to assume that it will be competitive or have a cost advantage over alternatives. That means we only invest in things that we believe can be cost-competitive or have another decisive benefit.’
The Tension Between AI and Climate Goals
As the former head of technology and AI efforts at Meta, [NAME] has a unique perspective on the tension between the energy consumption of AI and climate goals. What does he think companies should do to achieve their climate goals when the energy demands of data centers are increasing?
‘Two thoughts on that,’ [NAME] says. ‘AI is a foundational technology that can bring many benefits in the future. One reason I still work with Meta is that a large part of my work is on Llama, our open-source model that enables many people in the industry to use this technology. I think opening up foundational technologies is one way to move humanity forward faster and bring more people to prosperity, and that’s what I care about.’
Investing in green technologies can help reduce the cost of climate-friendly solutions
The Future of Green Technologies
As [NAME] looks to the future, he’s optimistic about the potential of green technologies to mitigate the climate crisis. But he’s also clear-eyed about the challenges ahead.
‘I think we should use AI as quickly as possible because I think it’s good,’ [NAME] says. ‘But we need to be aware of the energy consumption and work to reduce it over time.’
Green technologies like wind turbines can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels
Conclusion
As [NAME]’s story shows, even the most unlikely investors can make a difference in the fight against climate change. By investing in green technologies and promoting sustainable practices, we can create a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.
Investing in green technologies can help create a more sustainable future
