Presentation Abstract

Student's Name: Dennis Perkins III '28

Co-registrant Names:

Type of Presentation: Poster Exhibit: One or more registrants displaying posters for discussion

Presentation Title: "AI and impacts on the environment"

Abstract:

AI has rapidly expanded in the last few years, it has been integrated into industries ranging from transportation to education. While AI technologies are often promoted as tools for innovation and efficiency, their environmental impacts are frequently overlooked. This project examines how the development and use of AI contribute to environmental degradation through high energy consumption, increased demand for data centers, and the associated carbon emissions required to power and cool these systems. Training large AI models requires massive computational power, which relies heavily on electricity—often generated from fossil fuels. Additionally, the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure contributes to resource extraction, electronic waste, and increased pressure on global energy systems. By analyzing the energy requirements of AI systems and their broader environmental footprint, this project highlights the hidden ecological costs of technological advancement and emphasizes the need for more sustainable approaches to AI development and deployment.

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