Artificial intelligence is a tool many people have become dependent on. It is advertised as a way to make our lives easier. While this may be true, there is a side effect that is not talked about enough. As Ai becomes more widely used, it demands more energy, much more than most people realize. 

Junior, India Mann said, “I think Ai is really good. It helps with school and stuff. I didn’t know that it was so bad for the environment though”. 

India’s comment reflects how many people truly don’t realize the harm of Ai. People everywhere use Ai constantly without a second thought. 

Every time a person uses an Ai bot, data centers work to process that request. These centers are filled with high-powered devices that work 24/7, consuming massive amounts of energy, leading to increased carbon dioxide emissions. 

As more people incorporate Ai into their everyday lives, it becomes more advanced. Resulting in more energy usage.  

Junior, Ava Winslow said, “I don’t really use Ai, but I know a lot of people that do. I didn’t even realize how bad it was and other people probably don’t realize either”. 

Ava supports the fact that Ai’s effects on the world are not talked about enough. People are blindly using it every day. 

Beyond these electrical demands, a huge amount of water is needed to cool down the machinery. This can strain water supply and harm ecosystems. Since people have become so dependent on Ai, there is a demand for higher performing hardware. The manufacturing of this is causing indirect harm to the environment. 

Ai isn’t going away, and there is no way of stopping everyone from using it. But understanding its environmental costs is important. If you ignore this issue, Ai could quickly accelerate climate change.