A United Nations University report reveals that global data centers consume electricity at levels comparable to the world's largest countries. Driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, energy use is projected to double by 2030, significantly increasing carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption for cooling. The findings highlight a paradox where efficiency gains are offset by increased demand. The report emphasizes that operational requests, rather than initial model training, account for the vast majority of AI's power appetite, posing a challenge for global decarbonization goals.
