AI boosts conservation but increases data center electricity and water
AI is quickly becoming a go-to tool for environmental groups, helping with everything from tracking wildlife to analyzing climate data.
Conservation International, for example, uses AI in Cambodia to send real-time wildfire alerts, making conservation work faster and smarter.
But there is a catch: running all this tech means more electricity and water use at massive data centers, which is not great for the planet.
Nature Conservancy tests local AI processing
To keep things sustainable, organizations like Save the Elephants in Kenya use AI to speed up animal surveys and cut down on manual work.
Still, experts warn that if nothing changes, data centers could double their energy and water use by 2030.
That is why the Nature Conservancy is testing out local AI processing, hoping to get all the benefits of smart tech without putting extra strain on the environment.