By Anna Baker, Staff Writer
AI has rapidly become a huge part of most people’s daily life. Everyone constantly uses it, whether they want to or not – AI is used in most phones and is even built into most websites and apps. Google uses AI even if you personally don’t want to use it, as it frequently pops up as an option and the engine will often give AI generated answers anyway. Microsoft has also incorporated AI into things students use for classes, like PowerPoint and Word. As AI is constantly growing and becoming more invasive in daily life, it can seem exciting, but there are many factors to consider. When trying to understand the effects of AI we first must learn how it is produced.
First, a large amount of energy is required of the data centers to run the AI servers. There are many data centers in the United States that produce a large amount of the energy needed for AI servers. These data centers also house the AI servers that are designed specifically for Artificial Intelligence. These servers require major amounts of energy, and often get the energy from large sources, such as fossil fuels. However, the high amounts of energy flowing through these data centers can make the servers very hot – and, when servers get hot, they need a cooling component such as water or air. Considering the amount of water or air needed from these centers to cool their servers every time the AI is used, the effects on the environment are almost entirely negative.
According to Penn State News, “AI’s rapid expansion also drives higher water usage, emissions and e-waste, raising urgent sustainability concerns.” This is a huge issue as there are only so many limited resources, like clean water and fossil fuels, to be used. All AI data centers consume water for cooling systems, and they are using so much water it is already affecting communities.
As data centers expand, they will only use more and more water. When water is used in such large amounts it takes away from communities that need water. Many places don’t have unlimited sources of clean water. Not everyone can just get fresh water by switching on the faucet. This large-scale use of water can impact many people and their local water sources, especially during drought seasons. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states, “Globally, AI-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million, according to one estimate. That is a problem when a quarter of humanity already lacks access to clean water and sanitation.” This estimate is very overwhelming, just imagine how much water six million people use and times that by six.
While the consumption of clean water is one of the leading concerns of AI usage, fossil fuels are also being used in large amounts when energy is being produced at such a high level. As we all know fossil fuels are becoming very limited, and AI is one more product using them up.
The machine itself that runs AI servers requires rare and unrenewable resources. The UNEP states that when the computers are made “a 2 kg computer requires 800 kg of raw materials. As well, the microchips that power AI need rare earth elements, which are often mined in environmentally destructive ways.”Not only is the use of fossil fuels bad, but the mining needed to get to them is damaging to the environment.
The high production of energy also leads to electronic waste and emissions containing lead and mercury, which are also very bad for the environment. In addition to that, data centers emit toxic substances into the air when producing energy, which will eventually settle, contaminating other things in the environment. This process will continue to harm the environment until it is unsustainable.
Overall, the advancements in production of AI lead to many overlooked environmental challenges. The over-use of water, fossil fuels, and electricity combined causes a major concern for the environment. The production of AI generated responses, searches, images, videos, etc. uses all of these limited resources, meanwhile releasing toxins that pollute the environment. If this continues the way it is now, it will have a major contribution to the degradation of our planet. There are many solutions and greener ways to do these things, but the first step towards change is understanding the massive footprint AI has on the environment.
