AI's Water and Electricity Use Soars in 2025
A new study estimates that AI created as much carbon pollution as New York City and consumed as much water as global bottled water consumption in 2025, highlighting the growing environmental impact of AI.
Why it matters
The growing environmental impact of AI highlights the need for greater transparency and sustainability efforts as the technology becomes more widely adopted.
Key Points
- 1AI's carbon emissions and water usage reached new highs in 2025
- 2The environmental impact is likely underestimated due to lack of transparency from tech companies
- 3Concerns raised about the potential environmental toll as AI becomes more integrated into everyday tasks
Details
The article discusses a new study that paints a concerning picture of AI's environmental impact in 2025. According to the estimates, AI's carbon emissions were equivalent to the pollution generated by New York City, while its water consumption matched the global bottled water usage. The author argues that these figures are likely conservative, as tech companies have been opaque about the energy and water demands of their AI systems and data centers. As AI becomes more ubiquitous in various applications, the potential environmental toll is expected to grow, raising concerns about the sustainability of this technology's expansion.
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