AI’s Hidden Cost: Carbon Equal to NYC, Water Use Exceeds Bottled Water

Groundbreaking new research reveals the staggering environmental toll of the artificial intelligence boom, estimating that in 2025 alone, AI systems emitted as much carbon dioxide as the entire city of New York and consumed more water than global bottled water demand.

According to a study by Alex de Vries-Gao published in the journal Patterns, this marks the first attempt to isolate AI’s specific footprint from general data center use, highlighting a crisis where society bears the cost while tech companies reap the benefits.

The report warns that the largest AI data centers consume electricity equivalent to 2 million households, with planned facilities in places like the UK and India posing major carbon liabilities.

Despite some corporate efforts, a lack of transparency and the explosive growth of “hyperscale” data centers suggest this environmental impact is just the tip of the iceberg.