logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2025
38m 23s

AI: Is It Ruining the Environment?

SPOTIFY STUDIOS
About this episode
The internet is abuzz with accusations that artificial intelligence is using up tons of energy and water. People are even protesting the building of new AI data centers, saying they’ll put a huge strain on local resources. But some AI defenders say that this fear is overblown and that AI isn’t actually that bad for the environment. So who’s right? We talk to ... Show More
Up next
Jul 30
Free Will: Does It Exist?
Will you hit play on this episode?? It feels like that decision is totally within your control — but what if it’s not? What if free will is just an illusion? Lots of people are using science to say that free will is a trick of the mind, that whether or not you listen to this epis ... Show More
31m 49s
Jul 2
Narcissists: Are We Surrounded?
The internet tells us that narcissists are everywhere — and that the problem is only getting worse. It’s like narcissism is oozing out of our celebrities, politicians, partners, parents, maybe even ourselves?? So today, we’re taking a long look in the mirror to find out: are we a ... Show More
44m 38s
Jun 25
Raw Milk: Secret Superfood??
Raw milk is having a major moment, with fans claiming it’s a gut-healing superfood that can prevent everything from asthma to allergies. But others are like HOLD ON — we pasteurize milk to make it safe! Drinking raw milk can kill you. So, who’s right? Could there be some benefits ... Show More
40m 33s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
Is AI Going To Destroy The Planet?
AI is everywhere, but how much water is it consuming? IT IS WORTH IT:?! How much energy is it consuming? THEY'RE TURNING BACK ON THREE MILE ISLAND?! IS THAT A GOOD THING? Today we have an AI freak out. We are going to explain the new research and stats around how much AI data cen ... Show More
44m 11s
Sep 2025
How AI impacts the environment (and your energy bill)
AI is the future, but how is its infrastructure impacting your air, water, and utilities bills today? You asked, and Brittany delivered. Many of you wrote in asking about artificial intelligence’s environmental impact. Brittany and Evan Halper, a business and energy reporter for ... Show More
20 m
May 2024
Can Artificial Intelligence Save the Planet?
What do you think of when you hear the phrase "artificial intelligence?" Does chatGPT or Alexa come to mind? Do you imagine robots taking over the world? What might not immediately come to mind are things like biodiversity preservation, green energy optimization, and water conser ... Show More
1h 9m
Dec 2024
What is the environmental cost of AI search?
As tech companies increase their AI production, the environmental costs are coming to light. What are the resources fuelling the AI revolution? And how does AI impact the tech industry’s climate goals? In this episode: Sophie Bushwick (@sophiebushwick), New Scientist Senior Tech ... Show More
16m 35s
Aug 2025
Does a single AI query use a bottle of water?
We’re living through boom-times for Artificial Intelligence, with more and more of us using AI assistants like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Grok and Copilot to do basic research and writing tasks. But what is the environmental impact of these technologies? Many listeners have got in touch ... Show More
8m 59s
Aug 2021
Brainstorm
<p>In this episode of Tech Tonic, we ask whether AI's potential in the fight against the climate crisis justifies the massive amounts of energy it takes to run these systems. The computing power required to train AI concerns some researchers, who have built a calculator to count ... Show More
21m 2s
Oct 2025
We’re doing AI all wrong. Here’s how to get it right | Sasha Luccioni
Artificial intelligence is changing everything — but at what cost? AI sustainability expert Sasha Luccioni exposes how tech companies' massive data centers are burning through energy and wrecking the planet. She introduces a powerful alternative: small but mighty AI models that c ... Show More
12m 12s
Oct 2025
We’re doing AI all wrong. Here’s how to get it right | Sasha Luccioni
Artificial intelligence is changing everything — but at what cost? AI sustainability expert Sasha Luccioni exposes how tech companies' massive data centers are burning through energy and wrecking the planet. She introduces a powerful alternative: small but mighty AI models that c ... Show More
12m 12s
Jul 2023
Will AI Replace Us? with Matt Ginsberg
<p>Is artificial intelligence taking over? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discuss deepfakes, AI hallucinations, and whether AI really is intelligent with software engineer at X, the moonshot factory, Matt Ginsberg. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can ... Show More
54m 46s