By Petra Stock
Publication Date: 2026-03-13 23:00:00
It’s only been a few years since ChatGPT was released, but the race to integrate artificial intelligence into everything has led to a surge in data centers, leading to rising environmental costs.
According to the International Energy Agency, global data center power demand is growing four times faster than any other sector and is on track to exceed Japan’s electricity consumption by 2030.
In Australia, the energy market operator expects data center energy needs to triple within five years and exceed the power consumption of the country’s electric vehicle fleet by 2030. The authorities also expect a significant need for drinking water.
As the QuitGPT movement – a boycott of AI because of its use of surveillance and weapons – gains momentum, should people concerned about the environmental impact of AI also consider opting out?
How harmful is AI for the environment?
Estimates vary, but most studies say that generative AI models – which generate text, images and videos – consume
