The current standard to compare the performance of AI algorithms is mainly
based on one criterion: the model's accuracy. In this context, algorithms with
a higher accuracy (or similar measures) are considered as better. To achieve
new state-of-the-art results, algorithmic development is accompanied by an
exponentially increasing amount of compute. While this has enabled AI research
to achieve remarkable results, AI progress comes at a cost: it is
unsustainable. In this paper, we present a promising tool for sustainable and
thus Green AI: tensor networks (TNs). Being an established tool from
multilinear algebra, TNs have the capability to improve efficiency without
compromising accuracy. Since they can reduce compute significantly, we would
like to highlight their potential for Green AI. We elaborate in both a kernel
machine and deep learning setting how efficiency gains can be achieved with
TNs. Furthermore, we argue that better algorithms should be evaluated in terms
of both accuracy and efficiency. To that end, we discuss different efficiency
criteria and analyze efficiency in an exemplifying experimental setting for
kernel ridge regression. With this paper, we want to raise awareness about
Green AI and showcase its positive impact on sustainability and AI research.
Our key contribution is to demonstrate that TNs enable efficient algorithms and
therefore contribute towards Green AI. In this sense, TNs pave the way for
better algorithms in AI