Content area

Abstract

According to "AI and energy: To be fair, even the 2.5 million metric tons of e-waste that generative AI data centers could potentially be creating by 2030 would be a relatively small contribution to an already massive environmental problem. Currently, small devices such as toys, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, and e-cigarettes account for 33 percent of e-waste (20.4 million metric tons), while small IT and telecommunication equipment such as laptops, mobile phones, GPS devices, and routers account for 7.4 percent of e-waste (4.6 million metric tons), with only a 22 percent documented collection and recycling rate. In response to AP's questions about its water usage for AI training, Microsoft issued a statement saying, "We will continue to monitor our emissions, accelerate progress while increasing our use of clean energy to power data centers, purchasing renewable energy, and other efforts to meet our sustainability goals of being carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030."

Details

1007133
Company / organization
Title
The Environmental Cost Of AI: Generative AI Services Use A Lot Of Electricity And Water, And Create A Lot Of E-Waste
Author
Publication title
Library Journal; New York
Volume
150
Issue
4
First page
16
Publication year
2025
Publication date
Apr 2025
Section
Features
Publisher
MSI Information Services
Place of publication
New York
Country of publication
United States
ISSN
03630277
Source type
Trade Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Feature
ProQuest document ID
3182325080
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/environmental-cost-ai/docview/3182325080/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Copyright MSI Information Services Apr 2025
Last updated
2025-12-01
Database
ProQuest One Academic