By 2030, the water consumption linked to artificial intelligence (AI) usage is projected to match that of 1.3 billion people residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the energy required for AI operations is expected to be nearly three times greater than the annual energy consumption of countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, which collectively have a population of 650 million.
In terms of carbon dioxide emissions, AI systems could emit up to 400 million tons of CO₂ equivalent. This figure is comparable to the total carbon emissions produced by the United Kingdom. Moreover, the infrastructure and supply chain needed for AI operations are anticipated to cover an area of 14,500 square kilometers. This is twice the size of the metropolitan area of Jakarta, a megacity with a population exceeding 32 million, and ten times larger than Mexico City’s 21 million.
These findings highlight the significant environmental impact associated with the growing adoption of AI technologies.