Technology · 18 December 2025
AI Boom Produces Carbon Emissions Equivalent to New York City in 2025
A new study by Dutch researcher Alex de Vries-Gao reveals that artificial intelligence systems generated between 32.6 to 79.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2025, comparable to New York City's entire annual output. The research, published in journal Patterns, also found AI water consumption reached 312.5 to 764.6 billion litres, exceeding global bottled water demand. The emissions represent over 8% of global aviation emissions, highlighting the significant environmental impact of the AI boom.
Reported by Irish Examiner · How we write briefs