Environmental Impacts of AI

As I was scrolling through Instagram last week, I came across this startling fact about the implications of AI, which stopped me in my tracks.

In just two years, AI data centers in Texas used over 450 million gallons of water to keep their servers cool, while nearby residents were urged to cut back on their own water usage due to ongoing drought condition (source: @brutamerica).

What the what?! Startling, I know, and clearly the water usage will only increase over time, as I’m sure new data centers will also be built in Texas and other areas.

Regardless of how you feel about AI, doesn’t it seem like most of the news coverage out there supports this new technology and its opportunities? Where is the coverage about the negative effects? Now more than ever, it’s time for the masses to start talking about the balance of the data center needs with the environmental implications.

While I personally don’t use AI much at all, reading such stats honestly deters me from using it more – although I’m sure it’s going to become more and more of a go-to across many areas of our life, from schools, work and more. So, while I’m not suggesting stopping using AI (though you can ;)), let’s all take a moment to remember the environmental effects as we use it and push ourselves to do better in other areas that may be more in our control.