Former Prime Minister Tony Blair at his offices in central London on Monday. PA
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair at his offices in central London on Monday. PA
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair at his offices in central London on Monday. PA
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair at his offices in central London on Monday. PA

Blair calls on leaders to cut AI energy footprint while maximising benefits


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Political and business leaders must create policies that minimise artificial intelligence's energy and carbon footprint while maximising its benefits to society, the Tony Blair Institute says in a report.

Greening AI: A Policy Agenda for the Artificial Intelligence and Energy Revolutions says that while AI is showing the possibility of a carbon-neutral future, it is stretching resources and adding to emissions in the short term.

Despite commitments by many technology and energy companies to reduce carbon emissions and add new clean-power sources, companies and governments are turning to less climate-friendly solutions, including building gas plants, to deal with the surge in demand from AI.

Despite heavy energy consumption, AI is enabling breakthroughs across the climate and energy sectors and accelerating climate science research at scale, the report says.

The institute notes work by Google DeepMind researchers who recently discovered 2.2 million crystal structures, including 380,000 stable materials that could power future technologies such as batteries, computer chips and solar panels.

Without AI, it would have required 800 years of knowledge to make the same discovery, which demonstrates its highly valuable speed and accuracy, it said.

The report said governments that enable the rapid development of zero and low-carbon power will be at a competitive advantage in the future as businesses look to reduce their emissions.

The AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park – in pictures

  • British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets US Vice President Kamala Harris on the second day of the UK's Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. Getty Images
    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets US Vice President Kamala Harris on the second day of the UK's Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. Getty Images
  • British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly talks to an attendee. The summit is being attended by industry leaders and government officials. PA
    British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly talks to an attendee. The summit is being attended by industry leaders and government officials. PA
  • Mr Sunak speaks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. AFP
    Mr Sunak speaks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. AFP
  • Mr Sunak welcomes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. PA
    Mr Sunak welcomes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. PA
  • UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with Mr Sunak. Getty Images
    UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with Mr Sunak. Getty Images
  • Mr Sunak arrives at Bletchley Park on day two of the summit. EPA
    Mr Sunak arrives at Bletchley Park on day two of the summit. EPA
  • Michelle Donelan, front centre, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with international digital ministers at the start of the AI Safety Summit. Getty Images
    Michelle Donelan, front centre, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with international digital ministers at the start of the AI Safety Summit. Getty Images
  • King Charles III addresses delegates in a recorded video message. AP
    King Charles III addresses delegates in a recorded video message. AP
  • Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation, Georgii Dubynskyi, speaks to Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, Tesla and X. Reuters
    Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation, Georgii Dubynskyi, speaks to Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, Tesla and X. Reuters
  • Ms Donelan with Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. AP
    Ms Donelan with Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. AP
  • US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Getty Images
    US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Getty Images
  • Mr Musk attends the first plenary session of the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. PA
    Mr Musk attends the first plenary session of the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. PA
  • Ms Donelan greets Georgii Dubynskyi, Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation. PA
    Ms Donelan greets Georgii Dubynskyi, Ukraine's Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation. PA
  • Wu Zhaohui, China's vice minister of science and technology, addresses the AI Safety Summit. Bloomberg
    Wu Zhaohui, China's vice minister of science and technology, addresses the AI Safety Summit. Bloomberg
  • Bletchley Park, home of Britain's codebreakers during the Second World War, on the first day of the AI Safety Summit. Getty Images
    Bletchley Park, home of Britain's codebreakers during the Second World War, on the first day of the AI Safety Summit. Getty Images

The TBI's previous report – State of Compute Access: How to Bridge the New Digital Divide – explained why slowing down the development of computer infrastructure while clean energy supply catches up is not a sensible option.

This challenge is already surfacing in countries such as Ireland, Singapore and the Netherlands, which have limited the construction of new data centres in certain regions due to power constraints.

In the US, construction times for data centres have been extended by between two and six years because of power supply delays and grid constraints.

“As AI adoption grows, so does energy demand, placing pressure on national energy networks. However, this interdependence can be leveraged for mutual benefit,” said Jared Haddon, the institute's senior director based in Abu Dhabi.

“[The institute's] new paper suggests that AI advancements can accelerate the transition to clean energy, which in turn can fuel further technological innovation and investment in both compute infrastructure and green technologies.

“We call on political leaders to create policies that minimise AI's energy and carbon footprint while maximising its societal benefits.

“This positive feedback loop requires concerted efforts from both public and private sectors.

“For countries beginning their AI development, there is an opportunity to establish green AI capabilities early, attracting investment from large tech companies looking for new growth markets.

“For more advanced countries with significant computing resources, green AI can help reduce AI advancement costs through renewable energy, which is crucial for cost-sensitive data centres.

“Governments must speed up the development of clean-grid infrastructure and low or zero-carbon compute infrastructure while fostering an environment for the private sector to improve AI energy efficiency.

“Approaches will vary based on local contexts and capacities.”

To achieve this, the institute is recommending governments establish methods to drive national and green AI projects, and foster collaboration with academia and the private sector to develop technical expertise and governance frameworks.

It also encourages policymakers to include the energy AI requires into infrastructure planning.

Governments must also adopt best-practice metrics for reporting carbon emissions and energy use across the AI chain, addressing current gaps in measurement and accountability, the report recommends.

The institute also says governments should innovate and be more flexible during the planning process to support private-sector investment in clean-energy technologies, and introduce a green-AI certification scheme.

Governments should also encourage private-sector innovation in advanced energy solutions such as nuclear and geothermal, as well as increase investment in green AI hardware and software.

The report also recommends international collaboration to accelerate global progress on green AI, making use of platforms such as the Cop Breakthrough Agenda for high-level collaboration and setting agendas.

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Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

PROVISIONAL FIXTURE LIST

Premier League

Wednesday, June 17 (Kick-offs uae times) Aston Villa v Sheffield United 9pm; Manchester City v Arsenal 11pm 

Friday, June 19 Norwich v Southampton 9pm; Tottenham v Manchester United 11pm  

Saturday, June 20 Watford v Leicester 3.30pm; Brighton v Arsenal 6pm; West Ham v Wolves 8.30pm; Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 10.45pm 

Sunday, June 21 Newcastle v Sheffield United 2pm; Aston Villa v Chelsea 7.30pm; Everton v Liverpool 10pm 

Monday, June 22 Manchester City v Burnley 11pm (Sky)

Tuesday, June 23 Southampton v Arsenal 9pm; Tottenham v West Ham 11.15pm 

Wednesday, June 24 Manchester United v Sheffield United 9pm; Newcastle v Aston Villa 9pm; Norwich v Everton 9pm; Liverpool v Crystal Palace 11.15pm

Thursday, June 25 Burnley v Watford 9pm; Leicester v Brighton 9pm; Chelsea v Manchester City 11.15pm; Wolves v Bournemouth 11.15pm

Sunday June 28 Aston Villa vs Wolves 3pm; Watford vs Southampton 7.30pm 

Monday June 29 Crystal Palace vs Burnley 11pm

Tuesday June 30 Brighton vs Manchester United 9pm; Sheffield United vs Tottenham 11.15pm 

Wednesday July 1 Bournemouth vs Newcastle 9pm; Everton vs Leicester 9pm; West Ham vs Chelsea 11.15pm

Thursday July 2 Arsenal vs Norwich 9pm; Manchester City vs Liverpool 11.15pm

 

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BDirector%3AAssad%20Al%20Waslati%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%0DStarring%3A%20Omar%20Al%20Mulla%2C%20Badr%20Hakami%20and%20Rehab%20Al%20Attar%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20ADtv%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

The stay

Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: May 30, 2024, 7:22 AM