The Peterborough NWR group had a fascinating discussion about AI recently.
One of our new members, Barbara, suggested this topic for our latest programme, particularly AI’s usage of power and water and its relationship to climate change. This was a great example of member led research sparking a wide ranging conversation on a vitally important subject.
Some of our key findings were:
- Growth of AI is driving a significant, yet often underestimated, increase in water consumption, primarily for cooling data centres and generating the electricity they require. Global projections indicate that AI’s water demand could reach billions of cubic metres annually, posing a substantial threat to water security worldwide and, critically, within the UK.
- The UN has concerns over water shortages in general. Only 1%of water worldwide is of a fresh,accessible drinking quality. This is what is required for data centres. UN concerns over cross border cooperation and the need for water to be a resource for everyone, not commercialised or to become a commodity.
- A 2kg computer requires 800kg of raw materials. Rare earth elements are mined in an environmentally destructive way leading to groundwater destruction, water and soil contamination, deforestation and soil erosion. The centres also produce electronic waste often containing lead and mercury.
- Dark data; data that companies collect from us and never use or only use once. According to Wikipedia most companies only analyse 1% of their data
- BEIJING, Aug 1 (Reuters) – China’s refined copper output is set to hit a record high in 2025, analysts say, as its giant smelting sector powers through a global shortage of copper ore that is forcing some overseas competitors out of business.
- Refined copper production in China, which already accounts for more than half of the world’s output of the metal, will climb between 7.5% and 12% this year and surpass last year’s record high of 13.64 million metric tons, according to analyst estimates.
- AI is projected to contribute significantly to the UK economy. By 2030, it could add up to £630 billion, boosting productivity and creating new markets. Sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail are expected to benefit most.
- AI applications in healthcare include predictive analytics for patient care, personalized treatment plans, and improved diagnostic accuracy through image recognition technologies. Initiatives like NHS AI Lab aim to enhance patient outcomes and optimize operational efficiency.
We concluded that there needed to be a much greater awareness of the global risks as well as the potential benefits that AI provides. There is an urgent need for countries to work in cooperation together as the issues go far beyond individual countries. We would like to see NWR National adopting this as one of their themes for future years as it has so many ramifications for future generations.
