Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more common in everyday life. People use AI when they ask virtual assistants questions, which recommend videos, or even shop online. AI has made many tasks faster and easier, but it also affects the environment in many ways that not everyone thinks about.
One of the biggest environmental effects of AI is the amount of electricity it takes up. AI’s programs need powerful computers to store and process information. These computers are usually kept in buildings called data centers that run all day. Because these use so much energy a day, they can increase population.
Another problem is the amount of water needed to cool the computers. On unep.org it states, “The proliferating data centres that house AI servers produce electronic waste. They are large consumers of water, which is becoming scarce in many places. They rely on critical minerals and rare elements, which are often mined unsustainably. And they use massive amounts of electricity, spurring the emission of planet-warming greenhouse gases.” Data centers can become very hot over time, so the companies use cooling systems to keep them from getting overheated. In some places this uses thousands of gallons of water a day. This can become an issue in areas that already struggle with obtaining water storage.
AI also contributes to electronic waste. Nature.com states, “Our findings indicate that this e-waste stream could increase, potentially reaching a total accumulation of 1.2–5.0 million tons during 2020–2030, under different future GAI development settings. This may be intensified in the context of geopolitical restrictions on semiconductor imports and the rapid server turnover for operational cost savings. Meanwhile, we show that the implementation of circular economy strategies along the GAI value chain could reduce e-waste generation by 16–86%. This underscores the importance of proactive e-waste management in the face of advancing GAI technologies.” Technology changes quickly, so companies often replace old computers with more up-to-date ones. When old electronics are thrown away instead of recycled, harmful materials can end up in the environment.
Even though AI can harm the environment, it can also help protect it. Scientists use AI to study climate change. They also use it to predict natural disasters. Even some cities use AI to reduce traffic and lower energy usage.
Overall, artificial intelligence has both positive and negative effects on the environment. While it can also increase energy use and waste, it can also help people in environmental situations.
