The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) is exacting an environmental cost that rivals that of large metropolitan areas. A groundbreaking study released this week reveals that the carbon dioxide emissions associated with AI systems have reached a staggering level, comparable to the entire city of New York.
According to the research published in the journal Patterns, AI’s carbon footprint could soar to 80 million tons of CO2 by 2025, equivalent to over 8% of the global emissions produced by aviation. Moreover, the water consumption attributed to AI has already surpassed the world’s demand for bottled water.
The data was compiled by Alex de Vries-Gao, the founder of Digiconomist, who sought to isolate the specific environmental impact of AI systems amidst the surge of tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. His findings paint a troubling picture of the unseen costs of technological advancement.
Unprecedented Emissions and Water Use
- The study indicates that AI systems could emit 80 million tons of CO2 in 2025, a figure that surpasses the emissions of many major industries, including the aviation sector.
- Water usage is projected to reach 765 billion liters, a volume that is over one-third higher than previous estimates for all data centers combined.
- “The environmental cost of this is huge,” de Vries-Gao stated. He argues that the lack of transparency from tech companies places an undue burden on society, one that is not reflected in corporate financial statements.
Data Centers Under the Spotlight
The International Energy Agency has warned that data centers dedicated to AI are now consuming as much electricity as highly energy-intensive industries, such as aluminum smelters. This energy demand is expected to more than double by 2030.
In the United Kingdom, new “hyperscale” facilities are in the planning stages, each with the potential to emit carbon volumes on par with those of major airports. Critics contend that this scenario highlights a growing imbalance between the economic benefits of AI and its environmental repercussions.
As the infrastructure required to support AI continues to grow, the debate over its sustainability is set to intensify. The environmental impact of AI is becoming an issue of significant concern, with the onus on tech companies to address the hidden costs of their booming industry. The lack of transparency regarding these impacts is a focal point for critics, who argue that society is bearing the brunt of an environmental toll that is not adequately disclosed or mitigated by the corporations reaping the benefits of AI technologies.
Source: Olhar Digital, Patterns
