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Energy-hungry AI is already harming health - and it's getting worse

^{Published on 2024-12-11 22:24:04 - New Scientist}
 

• The electricity required to support AI could contribute to approximately 600,000 asthma cases and create a $20 billion public health burden by 2030

The article from New Scientist discusses the environmental and health impacts of the rapidly growing energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI). AI systems, particularly those involved in training large language models and other data-intensive applications, consume vast amounts of electricity, leading to increased carbon emissions and contributing to climate change. This surge in energy use not only exacerbates global warming but also directly affects public health through higher pollution levels, which can lead to respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and other health problems. The article highlights that data centers, which house the servers running these AI models, are significant contributors to this issue, with their energy consumption expected to rise as AI applications become more widespread. Moreover, the lifecycle of AI hardware, from production to disposal, involves hazardous materials and e-waste, further impacting environmental and human health. The piece calls for more sustainable practices in AI development, including energy-efficient algorithms, renewable energy sources for data centers, and better lifecycle management of AI hardware to mitigate these adverse effects.

Read the Full New Scientist Article at:
[ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459657-energy-hungry-ai-is-already-harming-health-and-its-getting-worse/ ]

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