How is AI Impacting the Environment?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed the way businesses operate and become a part of daily life for millions of people globally. What are the potential impacts of AI on the environment?

Water Usage: Data centers powering AI use an estimated 200 million gallons of water each year to cool the machinery, according to The Epoch Times (Lean Right bias). The high water use is of particular concern in areas that already struggle with water scarcity, such as Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Utah, California, and Colorado—states where developers are building 437 new data centers. However, Epoch Times highlights that it’s “not just the volume of water that’s causing concern,” but the potential for the “forever chemicals” used in these cooling systems to leech into groundwater and harm drinking water resources. 

Energy Use and Emissions: Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet all increased their indirect carbon emissions by an average of 150% from 2020 to 2023 due to AI’s high energy demands. Reuters (Center) cited a United Nations report that found electricity use from AI data centers is increasing four times faster than other sectors. According to Fox Business (Lean Right), a White House report showed energy prices could increase anywhere from 9% to 58% because of the expanded use of AI.

Do Benefits Outweigh Costs? Scientific American (Lean Left) argued that, if leveraged correctly, AI could reduce climate pollution by up to 5.4 billion metric tons each year over the next decade—enough to outweigh the expected energy consumption and emissions from the AI itself. The article suggests using AI to increase efficiency in power grids, transportation, and food production, three “key impact areas.” However, these ideas require governments “to play an active role in guiding how AI is applied and governed, to make sure the downsides are managed effectively and the full potential of AI for climate action is realized.”

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