The Environmental Downside of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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Everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence (AI). Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, DALL·E are just a few of the many tools powered by this type of algorithm. According to Forbes, nearly 34 million images are generated by AI every day. It is now estimated that over 70% of images posted on social media have been generated by one of the roughly 2,000 AI tools currently available (Marr, 2025).

However, these technologies do not run without energy. Often overlooked, behind every query are data centers consuming large amounts of energy. Here are some stats:

  • A single query sent to ChatGPT consumes 10 times more energy than a Google search (UN, 2024).
  • Energy demand from these data centers is expected to double by 2030, reaching 945 terawatt-hours (IEA, 2025).
  • For comparison, Canada produced 639 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2022 (CNA, 2024).

The electricity consumed is not always produced from renewable sources. Moreover, these data centers generate significant heat that must be dissipated—often using water. AI tools could soon require water consumption equivalent to six times Denmark’s total water usage (UN, 2024).

AI can be a powerful tool, provided we use it responsibly and sustainably. At GCM Enviro Synergieswe are currently working on pilot projects in collaboration with our subsidiary Curiousity to increase our productivity and better serve our clients in the future. We are integrating AI into our practices, yes, but we are doing so responsibly and under the supervision of our in-house experts! This is another great benefit of our multi-subsidiary structure!

Antoine Touchette, CEP – Environment

References :

Natural Resources Canada (2024) energy-factbook-2024-2025.pdf. (n.d.). https://energy-information.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/energy-factbook-2024-2025.pdf

IEA. (2025, April 10). AI is set to drive surging electricity demand from data centers while offering the potential to transform how the energy sector works – News. IEA. https://www.iea.org/news/ai-is-set-to-drive-surging-electricity-demand-from-data-centres-while-offering-the-potential-to-transform-how-the-energy-sector-works

Marr, B. (2025, March 10). 15 Mind-Blowing AI Statistics Everyone Must Know About Now. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2025/03/10/15-mind-blowing-ai-statistics-everyone-must-know-about-now/

UN. (2024, September 21). AI has an environmental problem. Here's what the world can do about it. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about