Viktoras Kulionis puts AI’s thirst for power into context.

 

To some environmental commentators, AI is the real-world equivalent of Erysichthon, the mythical Greek king who was cursed with a destructive and insatiable hunger.

 

In their view, the technology’s resource needs are so vast that its proliferation will cause a surge in electricity demand, a draining of the planet’s fresh water supplies and a spike in global carbon emissions. Left unchecked, AI will only accelerate climate change.

 

At first glance, the argument looks convincing enough. The amount of power needed to keep AI models running is not trivial.