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AI and its Impact on the Environment

January 24, 2025

AI can make day-to-day life easier, but its high energy requirements raise environmental concerns.

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Image: Artlist

After all, building and operating data centers involves large quantities of power, water, and raw materials.

Why does AI need so much energy?

Modern AI models like ChatGPT operate based on large language models and are trained using huge amounts of data. This process requires high-performance processors and is very energy-intensive.

 

Processors in AI data centers tend to overheat. Fresh water is often used for cooling.
Image: Artlist/Colourbox

Water consumption in data centers – no small issue

Training and using AI tools like ChatGPT is energy-intensive and heats up processors. Fresh water is often used for cooling. If that warmer water is then recycled to its original source, it impacts the ecosystem.

 

Chilean activists say new data centers put the local population’s water and energy supply at risk.
Image: MOSACAT

Protesters halt new data center

In Chile, an environmental organization successfully protested against Google’s construction of a new AI data center. The company announced it would adhere to stricter environmental protection guidelines.

 

Elon Musk expands AI project in Tennessee

Elon Musk is building out a data center in Memphis to train his AI model. In its initial stage, the US center planned to use 150 megawatts of electricity — enough to power over 100,000 homes.

 

Beyond water and electricity, data centers also need rare metals. Mining them harms the environment.
Image: Artlist

The forgotten environmental costs of data centers

Besides water and electricity, data centers also require metals like silicon, copper, gold, and aluminum. Mining these resources is harmful to the environment.

 

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