Apple wants you let’s change our iPhone and Maceven earlier than we usually did. Devices one or two years old are not compatible with the iPhone’s star feature: Apple Intelligence. And, after the presentation of new Macs, like the Mac mini or the MacBook Pro, Apple Intelligence has become the number one demand to change our device. The iPhone 16 also uses this marketing resource.
The artificial intelligence revolution requires very powerful processors that were not even anticipated a few years ago. It’s all up to youa boom, like the one experienced in the 2000s with the arrival of the internet. However, the arrival of AI generates (and will generate) a worrying quantity of electronic waste.
The impact of AI would be equivalent to throwing 10 billion iPhones into the landfill
A recent study published in Nature reveals that between 2020 and 2030, AI could generate between 1.2 and 5 million tonnes of electronic waste. This figure is the equivalent of throwing away up to 13 billion iPhone 15 Pros. The study is based on four growth scenarios for generative AI:
- Limited expansion: 41% annual growth.
- Conservative: Growth of 85%, based on the development of voice assistants like Alexa.
- Moderate: 115% growth, inspired by the growth of TikTok.
- aggressive: 136% growth, comparable to the expansion of Facebook.
These scenarios reflect the demand for artificial intelligence, which is, at a minimum, an impressive number. And that’s it each of us experiences it. ChatGPT is celebrating its second anniversary and Apple Intelligence is now available and will arrive in Spanish in the spring.
In exchange, to move all that, processors as powerful as the A18 chip are needed or even the M4, greater RAM capacity, servers… Result: many people will change computers sooner than expected to be able to take advantage of these technologies.
In 2023, 62 million tonnes of electronic waste82% more than ten years ago.
Apple’s plan B to offset the AI footprint
As they say, Apple gives one of lime and another of sand. Even though many of us change devices to take advantage of Apple Intelligence, Apple is also doing everything possible to reduce its environmental impact. In fact, in 2030 it will be a carbon neutral company, and products like the Apple Watch Series 10 or the new Mac mini M4 already meet this standard.
Daisy can disassemble up to 1.2 million iPhones per year
Recycling is essential so that all of these components do not end up in landfills, harming the environment. SO, deliver our iPhone to Apple for recycling This is one of the best options. Robots like Daisy are tasked with efficiently dismantling iPhones and recovering valuable materials. The aluminum from your iPhone may end up being part of a new Mac, and so on with the rest of the parts.
Austin Materials Recovery Lab Uses Industrial Electronic Grinder to Recover Valuable Materials
Therefore, when you are going to replace your old iPhone with a new one, consider giving it a second life: this can be give it to someone else so that you continue to use it or sell it to Apple, where they will give you money for it and take care of using the parts.
The energy consumed by AI is also of great concern. All large server centers are going to need energy resources that, until now, have not been directly needed. Apple for years consumes 100% renewable energy. And the proof is the multiple wind farms they have, or local projects like the Segovia solar field, in USA.
Apple solar power plant in Segovia, USA
According to the study’s calculations, these measures could reduce the generation of electronic waste between 16% and 86%too high a percentage. And this, without the commitment of people and especially companies.
In Applesfera | Step by step to start recycling with your iPhone and RECICLOS, an application based on the return and reward system
In Applesfera | This is the process to recycle an iPhone and replace it with a new one from home and through Apple Trade In.
