Neu.ro launches AI cloud with zero carbon footprint

The American startup Neu.ro, in collaboration with Icelandic firm atNorth, unveiled a cloud solution with zero emissions for machine-learning tasks.

Neu.ro AI Cloud is the first cloud with a zero-emission footprint, integrated with a full suite of MLOps tools for the entire machine-learning lifecycle. It is built on Nvidia A100 GPUs, and its capacity is 80 MW.

The solution uses 100% renewable geothermal and hydro energy, which emits no CO2 into the atmosphere. Moreover, its location beyond the Arctic Circle in Iceland enables natural cooling.

“In data centres, cooling accounts for around 40% of electricity consumption on average, and in warmer climates it can reach 80%,” the company said.

Neu.ro researchers conducted a study and found that computing and telecommunications account for about 9% of global energy consumption. They anticipate that this figure will double over the next decade.

According to Neu.ro co-founder Max Prasolov, the company spends substantial electricity and compute power on training models for clients, which prompted them to seek greener alternatives.

“The aim is not to be carbon-neutral… The question is how to achieve zero emissions,” he said.

In ForkLog’s interview, Prasolov said that beyond a clean energy source, Neu.ro AI Cloud provides MLOps tools that enable faster development of algorithms, account for budgets for each model, and shift the perspective on ML model development.

“Using the right MLOps stack can save up to 80% of engineers’ time on routine, repetitive tasks. And the time of MLOps engineers is very costly and accounts for a significant share of the costs of machine learning,” he added.

Prasolov also noted that Neu.ro Cloud AI helps companies not only reduce but also account for the carbon footprint of their operations, something that is becoming a mandatory norm for public companies in many countries around the world.

In November, Swedish regulators called for a ban on Bitcoin mining and other Proof-of-Work cryptocurrencies within the European Union due to the energy intensity of digital-asset mining.

Later, Norwegian authorities said they intended to back the Swedish colleagues’ initiative, citing “undue electricity costs.”

In October, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz proposed using natural gas for Bitcoin mining to “help the environment.”

Subscribe to ForkLog’s Telegram news: ForkLog AI — all the news from the world of AI!