From Facebook to Climate: Why Meta’s Ex-CTO Now Invests in Green Technologies

As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, it’s no surprise that many tech industry leaders are turning their attention to sustainable technologies. One such leader is Meta’s former CTO, who has recently made headlines for his investments in green technologies. But what drives this shift in focus, and how does he see the tech industry’s role in addressing the climate crisis?

A ‘Green Discount’ for Sustainable Technologies

The concept of a ‘green discount’ is reminiscent of Bill Gates’ ‘green premium,’ which suggests that investing in climate-friendly technologies can ultimately lead to cost savings. However, not all sustainable technologies are created equal, and some alternatives are more expensive than their traditional counterparts. So, does this mean that Meta’s ex-CTO is hesitant to invest in these areas, or is he hopeful that costs will decrease over time?

Green technology is becoming increasingly important in the fight against climate change.

‘Technology takes time to develop, so no new technology is better, faster, or cheaper from the start,’ he explains. ‘But over the life cycle of a company, in five to ten years, I have to assume that we’ll be competitive or have a cost advantage over alternatives.’ This means that he only invests in technologies that he believes can be cost-competitive or offer other significant benefits.

The Tension Between AI and Climate Goals

As the former head of technology and AI at Meta, it’s natural to wonder about the potential tension between the energy consumption of AI and the goals of reducing carbon emissions. What does he think companies should do to achieve their climate goals when data center energy demands are on the rise?

The relationship between AI and climate change is complex.

‘AI is a foundational technology that can bring many benefits in the future,’ he notes. ‘One reason I still work with Meta is that a significant part of my work is on [Llama], our open-source model, which enables many people in the industry to use this technology.’ He believes that opening up foundational technologies can help accelerate progress and bring more people to prosperity.

Regarding energy consumption, he advocates for using AI as quickly as possible, as he believes it’s a net positive. During his time at Meta, they often achieved improvements in efficiency or energy consumption by orders of magnitude. While the industry is currently focused on building the best it can, which consumes a lot of energy, he’s confident that there are many levers to optimize efficiency in the future.

The Real Challenge: Scaling Clean Energy

Ultimately, the real challenge is not the energy consumption of AI, but rather the need to rapidly scale clean energy production. ‘If we want to electrify everything and get rid of fossil fuels, we need to bring a tremendous amount of clean energy online,’ he emphasizes. ‘This problem exists regardless of AI. I think the problem is being overstated while the real game is: How can we get dozens of gigawatts of clean energy online as quickly as possible? How can we create more solar energy, more wind energy, and more storage options? Can we get fusion started?’ For him, these are the humanitarian tipping points that will drive progress in many other areas.

Clean energy is crucial for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

As the tech industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that sustainable technologies will play an increasingly important role. By investing in green technologies and prioritizing clean energy production, we can create a more sustainable future for all.