Is artificial intelligence destroying the climate? | Green Left Show #84

There has been a massive investment in data centres to power rapid artificial intelligence growth around the world, but at what cost?

On this episode of the Green Left Show we discuss the energy and water impacts of data centres, community opposition, and whether AI is a bubble ready to pop, or here to stay.

Isaac Nellist is joined by Ketan Joshi, a climate and energy analyst based in Oslo, Norway; NSW Greens MLC Abigail Boyd, who is chairing the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into data centres; and Sanaa Shah, from the Sweltering Cities campaign group, which is looking into the impact of data centres on communities in Western Sydney.

0:00 Intro
1:42 Impact of renewable energy transition
12:47 Water consumption
22:22 Data centres in NSW
24:09 Largest data centre in the Southern Hemisphere
27:22 Impacts on the community
29:47 Other concerns
31:11 Are communities fighting back?
32:25 NSW Parliamentary inquiry into data centres
36:11 Pressure on governments
38:51 Is sustainable AI possible
45:11 Will the AI bubble pop?
52:05 Outro

We acknowledge that this was produced on stolen Aboriginal land. We express solidarity with ongoing struggles for justice for First Nations people and pay our respects to Elders past and present.