Checking sentences for grammatical errors, compiling research for projects, or creating images that depict individuals as animated characters are just some of the ways artificial intelligence (AI) is used. With AI technologies capable of providing entertainment and making everyday tasks more efficient, why shouldn’t people take advantage of this technology? However, what resources are required to make such functions possible?
According to the National Public Radio (NPR), around 40% of U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 to 64 have utilized generative artificial intelligence technologies, with a significant number of people using it frequently. As more and more people have started using AI, studies have begun revealing the shocking environmental impacts of this software.
Developing AI can have wide-ranging and destructive environmental impacts from greenhouse gas emissions to significant water usage. Therefore, the Dispatch Editorial Board believes that artificial intelligence poses a serious threat to the environment which should be addressed through the regulation of the corporations developing these technologies.
AI software requires a staggering amount of water to function. The data centers used to train artificial intelligence and develop algorithms create heat, and large volumes of water are consumed to cool these servers down.
Water usage for AI technologies is expected to increase to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water by the year 2027, according to a report by Forbes. The consumption of water to advance AI technologies only contributes to the depletion of this resource which will have serious detrimental impacts such as worsening drought conditions and increasing the risk of wildfires.
Furthermore, tech companies have reported skyrocketing greenhouse gas emissions while further developing AI software. Google has reported a 48% increase in greenhouse gas emissions since 2019, and Microsoft has disclosed a 29% increase in emissions since 2020, as stated in an article by NPR.
These emissions have undeniable effects including their contribution to steadily warming temperatures. The soaring greenhouse gas emissions associated with progressing AI take an irreversible toll on our planet from impacting the global climate to the air we breathe.
Finally, according to the United Nations Environment Program, the materials used to manufacture AI technologies are often mined in ways that cause harm to the environment. Additionally, data centers produce toxic waste, including materials such as lead and mercury which can pollute nearby water sources with the potential to harm both humans and aquatic life.
Although some argue that AI can play a role in environmental conservation by assisting in the development of clean energy, or monitoring waste and greenhouse gas emissions, it is impossible for this software to be considered a driver for sustainability while its advancement causes environmental damage.
To combat these detrimental effects, tech corporations must be held accountable. The federal government should impose strict regulations requiring companies to research and implement strategies that reduce the environmental footprint of AI if they wish to continue developing such software. Individuals can help to curb the consequences of this technology by considering how often they rely on AI.
The environmental toll of artificial intelligence must be addressed to preserve the earth which our very existence depends on. So, the next time you find yourself turning to ChatGPT to compose an email or are wondering how you might look as an animated character from a favorite movie or show, consider the consequential impact of your actions on the only planet we have to call home.
