
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


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 science and tech reporters Casey Crownhart and James O’Donnell, and computer scientist Prof. Shaolei Ren.
UPDATE, 11/13/25: This episode has been updated to note that some AI companies advertise on the show.
Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsAIEnvironment
Read James and Casey's article here: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1116327/ai-energy-usage-climate-footprint-big-tech/
Check out the Mythbusters GPU/CPU demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmW6SD-EHVY
In this episode, we cover:
(0:00) Chapter One: No More AI For Dank Memes?!
(3:34) Chapter Two: How Much Energy Does Your AI Query Use?
(15:37) Chapter Three: How Much Energy Does AI Use Total?
(21:18) Chapter Four: Is AI Drinking All Our Water?
(29:29) Chapter Five: Should You Quit Using AI?
This episode was produced by Rose Rimler and Blythe Terrell, with help from Meryl Horn and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all the researchers we reached out to, including Prof. Melissa Scanlan, and special thanks to Andrew Pouliot and Jesse Rimler.
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for new episode notifications.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
By Spotify Studios4.4
1172811,728 ratings
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 science and tech reporters Casey Crownhart and James O’Donnell, and computer scientist Prof. Shaolei Ren.
UPDATE, 11/13/25: This episode has been updated to note that some AI companies advertise on the show.
Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsAIEnvironment
Read James and Casey's article here: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1116327/ai-energy-usage-climate-footprint-big-tech/
Check out the Mythbusters GPU/CPU demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmW6SD-EHVY
In this episode, we cover:
(0:00) Chapter One: No More AI For Dank Memes?!
(3:34) Chapter Two: How Much Energy Does Your AI Query Use?
(15:37) Chapter Three: How Much Energy Does AI Use Total?
(21:18) Chapter Four: Is AI Drinking All Our Water?
(29:29) Chapter Five: Should You Quit Using AI?
This episode was produced by Rose Rimler and Blythe Terrell, with help from Meryl Horn and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Diane Kelly. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to all the researchers we reached out to, including Prof. Melissa Scanlan, and special thanks to Andrew Pouliot and Jesse Rimler.
Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for new episode notifications.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

91,031 Listeners

78,473 Listeners

43,859 Listeners

32,069 Listeners

30,713 Listeners

43,545 Listeners

27,377 Listeners

26,237 Listeners

3,651 Listeners

6,401 Listeners

4,415 Listeners

3,374 Listeners

24,381 Listeners

2,530 Listeners

1,637 Listeners

348 Listeners

16,332 Listeners

1,972 Listeners

382 Listeners

1,144 Listeners

6,549 Listeners

857 Listeners

2,301 Listeners

553 Listeners

4,503 Listeners

1,666 Listeners

43 Listeners

7 Listeners

12 Listeners

2 Listeners

29 Listeners

8 Listeners

9 Listeners