Is AI Destroying Our Planet?
The Hidden Truth Of AI
From chatbots to self-driving cars, AI is reshaping how we live, work, and connect.
But while it provides us with convenience and economic growth, there’s a darker side.
Its environmental cost.
So, let me ask one question loud and clear:
Is AI destroying our planet?
— The Truth Behind Today’s Chatbot
Training AI models (especially ones like GPT-4 or image generators) requires enourmus amounts of energy. We're talking millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity to train a single model. To compare, one large AI model can consume as much energy as several hundred homes use in a year.
Training a large language model like GPT-3, for example, is estimated to use just under 1,300 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity; about as much power as consumed annually by 130 US homes. To put that in context, streaming an hour of Netflix requires around 0.8 kWh (0.0008 MWh) of electricity. That means you’d have to watch 1,625,000 hours to consume the same amount of power it takes to train GPT-3.
(Vincent)
— The Brains (and Polluters) of AI
Data centres are like computer warehouses. They store and manage all the information we use online like websites, videos, messages, and more that we don’t know of.
These centres are also where artificial intelligence originates and works. Because of this, they are always turned on, using power and working hard to stay cool so the computers inside don’t overheat.
However, these data centres are growing fast.
Experts say that by the year 2030, data centres might use about 1.5% of all the world’s electricity!!!!
IEA’s models project that data centres will use 945 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2030, roughly equivalent to the current annual electricity consumption of Japan. By comparison, data centres consumed 415 TWh in 2024, roughly 1.5% of the world’s total electricity consumption
(Chen)
But electricity isn’t the only thing AI needs.
Believe it or not, AI systems also use a lot of clean water.
But why does AI use water, won’t it malfunction or something???
Well, water helps cool the servers (the machines that run AI) when they get too hot. In fact, one study from 2023 showed that training one big AI model can use millions of liters of water!
AI’s water footprint varies significantly depending on where it is trained and hosted. For example, AI consumes 1.8 – 12 litres of water for each kWh of energy usage across Microsoft’s global data centres, with Ireland and the state of Washington being the most and least water-efficient locations, respectively. The scope-1 onsite water consumption may be higher or lower than scope-2 offsite water consumption, depending on the data centre cooling technique and how electricity is generated in the local grid. For example, if a cooling tower is used for data centre cooling and the local grid primarily uses solar and wind energy, the scope-1 onsite water consumption can dominate.
(How Much Water Does AI Consume? The Public Deserves to Know - OECD.AI)
— More Tech = More Waste
The rise of AI doesn’t just need energy and water, but also stronger and faster computer parts. These include things like GPUs, special computer chips, and powerful servers.
SO, as AI continues to expand and grow, companies need to make more of these parts, and that creates more, new problems.
Moreover, when the parts get old or break, they often end up as electronic waste (aka e-waste). This type of waste is hard to recycle and can release harmful chemicals into the soil and water if it’s not handled properly.
All of this, mining, making, and throwing away, creates a chain of pollution and environmental damage. But many people don’t talk about this side of AI, even though it has a big impact on the planet….
They focus on the exciting parts: faster tools, smart assistants, and new discoveries, without even thinking about the environmental cost.
If we ignore this side of AI, we risk harming the planet in the name of “efficiency”.
What do you think the solution would be?
WORK CITED
Vincent, James. “How Much Electricity Does AI Consume?” The Verge, 16 Feb. 2024, www.theverge.com/24066646/ai-electricity-energy-watts-generative-consumption.
Chen, Sophia. “AI Will Drive Doubling of Data Center Energy Demand by 2030.” Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2025, www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-will-drive-doubling-of-data-center-energy-demand-by-2030/#:~:text=IEA's%20models%20project%20that%20data,'Global%20electricity%20growth').
How Much Water Does AI Consume? The Public Deserves to Know - OECD.AI. oecd.ai/en/wonk/how-much-water-does-ai-consume.
I hope there will be more improvement on what AI consumes, for the sake of this planet because... hoping for them to stop would be too naive of me.
I think we need to do a cost ve
Vs benefits analysis.
AI, but at what costs?
1. Energy consumption and environmental impact (as you pointed out)
2. Potential job losses as AI could be more productive than humans in certain mundane tasks.
3. Could be a few more pitfalls of AI.
What are the benefits?
1. Drivers of innovation; individuals and organizations can use AI to achieve higher efficiency. Leading to better time utilization, profit margins etc.
2. Research applications; scientists can conduct their data driven research much faster, which can lead to medicines and treatments to previously untreatable diseases.
3. National defense
Alternatives fossil fuels as energy source:
1. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft have already built data centers which are powered by nuclear mission reaction. It is a cleaner source than coal, natural gas and other fossil fuels. These data centers are compact, leak proof and are submerged under ocean which can act as a heat sink.
2. Because energy demand will skyrocket, we are likely to see innovation in energy generation technology at a dramatic pace in years to come.
I think overall, it is a moment of progress for mankind, like what we saw with evolution of internet, evolution of cars on road, or trains over a century ago.