The world is abuzz with the promise of artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that is supposed to revolutionize every aspect of our lives. From increasing productivity and profits to making medical breakthroughs and accelerating research, the hype is undeniable. But what many people don't realize is that this technological marvel comes with a dark side, one that is particularly devastating for our climate. In my opinion, the climate impacts of AI are a critical issue that is being deliberately obscured by big tech companies and government ministers. Personally, I think that the exponential growth in energy demand caused by AI is incompatible with a healthy, climate-stable future. What makes this particularly fascinating is that even if some data centers are powered by renewable energy, the huge increase in electricity demand is destabilizing energy systems and exacerbating climate vulnerabilities among those already marginalized. In my view, this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed, and the resistance is growing. From faculty, staff, and students within the Climate Justice Universities Union challenging the narrative of inevitability to communities organizing to block new data centers, people are waking up to the dangers of AI. What many people don't realize is that the tech industry is also partnering with fossil fuel companies to develop AI tools to extract more fossil fuels quicker and cheaper. This is a critical detail that highlights the true nature of big tech: it is not clean, and it is not green. One thing that immediately stands out is that the intentional obfuscation of the disastrous climate realities of AI is a necessary part of promoting the uncritical adoption of AI throughout society. The speed and intensity with which AI tools are being pushed on us create a distraction from consideration of ecological harms. In addition to electricity, data centers use huge amounts of water for cooling, and the massive warehouse-like buildings contribute to biodiversity loss as well as community disconnection wherever they are built. This raises a deeper question: who has time to think about climate, water, biodiversity, and community when our governments, employers, and educational institutions urge us to focus on learning how to use our new AI tools? In my perspective, the answer is clear: we need to join the resistance. As climate damages and other harms of AI become more clear, the simple message that Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole offered at a recent Trinity College public event on AI resonates well: 'Join the resistance!'
