AI and the Environment: The Hidden Costs and How We Can Fix Them Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world, from revolutionizing healthcare to optimizing business operations. But while AI promises efficiency and progress, there’s a darker side that most people don’t see: its environmental impact. AI models require massive computing power, which means huge energy consumption, increased carbon emissions, and growing electronic waste. In this article, we’ll explore how AI negatively affects the environment, provide real-world data, and suggest solutions to reduce its footprint. A high-tech AI data center with massive energy consumption 1. The Environmental Cost of AI: What Most People Don’t Know 1.1 AI’s Growing Energy Demand Training large AI models—like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or OpenAI’s DALL·E—requires thousands of powerful GPUs running for weeks or even months. This consumes more energy than some small countries. 🔹 A study from MIT found that training a ...