AI’s meet-cute with climate denial
The article examines the climate risks of artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of AI data centers, including their substantial electricity and water demands. Experts warn that projected data center growth could drive unnecessary utility investments and increase reliance on natural gas, while companies emphasize potential clean-energy benefits.
President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about climate change and artificial intelligence during Climate Week NYC, while companies promoted AI applications that could support clean energy. Nvidia sustainability executive Josh Parker said AI could help reduce emissions in transportation, manufacturing and buildings, but climate advocates argued that such claims overlook AI’s role in expanding fossil fuel extraction and increasing data center demand.
Research cited in the article indicates that emissions from powering AI data centers and optimizing fossil fuel production could outweigh savings from clean-energy applications. Data center researcher Jonathan Koomey, speaking in Columbus, Ohio, warned that utilities could build costly power infrastructure for projects that do not materialize, leaving customers to pay, and criticized the use of inefficient natural-gas combustion turbines to serve the sector.