AI Race Placing Huge Burden on Environment, Experts Warn
AI Race Placing Huge Burden on Environment, Experts Warn
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The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is raising growing concerns among scientists and environmental experts about its impact on the climate, even as technology companies argue that AI could help address the climate crisis.
According to a report by The Guardian, large AI data centers are driving sharp increases in energy and water consumption, with many facilities still reliant on fossil fuels. In the United States, gas-fired turbines are increasingly being used to power high-performance computing centers. Environmental campaigners say emissions from some AI facilities rival those of major power plants, contributing to methane releases and carbon pollution.
Globally, data centers currently account for about 1 percent of electricity use, but projections suggest their share could rise significantly. In Ireland, data centers already consume roughly one-fifth of national electricity, prompting authorities to restrict new grid connections. Analysts warn similar pressures could emerge elsewhere as AI infrastructure expands faster than power grids.
Technology companies maintain that AI’s climate footprint remains small compared with sectors such as transport or agriculture. They also argue AI can reduce emissions by improving renewable energy integration, optimizing industrial processes, and increasing efficiency. Some studies estimate AI-driven efficiencies could offset more emissions than data centers produce.
However, critics caution that efficiency gains may be undermined by rising demand and expanded fossil fuel production enabled by AI. The oil and gas industry has increasingly adopted AI to accelerate exploration and extraction, raising concerns about “enabled emissions” beyond tech companies’ direct footprints.
Calls for stronger regulation are growing. Environmental groups in several countries have urged moratoriums on new data centers until stricter environmental standards are introduced. Others advocate policies to ensure AI development aligns with climate goals.
Experts say the debate underscores a central challenge: balancing AI’s potential benefits against its rapidly growing environmental costs.
