Closing Keynote

Green AI Summit 2025: Closing Remarks - Reflections and a Call to Action

Session Date: April 26, 2025 Location: Boston University Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences

Overview:

The Second Green AI Summit concluded with insightful and forward-looking closing remarks from key figures involved in the event's success. These final addresses offered reflections on the vibrant discussions held over the two days, synthesized key takeaways, and charted a path forward for the growing Green AI community.

Key Messages from Closing Speakers:

• Professor Ayse Coskun (Boston University): As a summit co-host and expert in energy-efficient computing and grid-data center interactions, Professor Coskun thanked the organizers and attendees. She framed the current energy demands of AI not just as a crisis, but as a significant opportunity for innovation across multiple fronts: sustainable energy generation and storage, smarter grid infrastructure, energy-efficient computing hardware and software, data center flexibility, and supportive policy. Highlighting her team's research demonstrating the feasibility of data centers acting as controllable, grid-friendly assets via demand response, she emphasized that the vision of a greener, more resilient grid integrated with AI is achievable with continued collaboration and technological development.

• Karen Clopton (Former Chief Administrative Law Judge, CA PUC): Ms. Clopton delivered a powerful closing address emphasizing the critical importance of language and critical thinking in navigating the AI revolution. She challenged the audience to question the terminology used (like "cloud" or "hallucination") which can obscure the physical realities and potential biases of AI systems. Drawing parallels with the Industrial Revolution's known environmental consequences, she urged attendees to scrutinize the motivations behind AI development, questioning whether the focus is purely on the technology or also on related energy markets (like nuclear investments tied to AI proponents). Calling the current period a "change of era," she stressed the need for global collaboration, transparency, shared values, education, advocacy, and individual and collective action to ensure AI serves humanity sustainably and equitably, particularly considering the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South.

• Jerry Huang (Green AI Institute): The Founder and President of the Green AI Institute offered final thanks to all participants, speakers, sponsors, and the extensive volunteer team that made the expanded two-day summit possible. He reflected on the rapid growth of interest in Green AI, noting inquiries from diverse industries (like food service and fashion) beyond the traditional tech sphere. Mr. Huang reiterated the Institute's core mission to bridge gaps between disciplines (engineering, policy, social sciences) and connect academia with industry to tackle real-world problems. He emphasized that the summit was not an end point but a catalyst, inviting continued engagement through the Institute's research, white papers, open-access journal, local chapters, and future events, ultimately aiming to unite the community "to make the green AI a reality".

The closing session encapsulated the summit's spirit: acknowledging the complexity of Green AI challenges while fostering optimism grounded in collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to guiding AI development towards a sustainable and equitable global future.

Closing Speakers:

• Ayse Coskun: Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Systems, Engineering, Boston University

• Karen Clopton: Former Chief Administrative Law Judge, the California Public Utilities Commission

• Jerry Huang: Founder and President, Green AI Institute