AI boom could significantly increase global e-waste, study finds

The rise of AI could lead to a 3-12% increase in global electronic waste by 2030, amounting to an extra 2.5 million metric tons annually, according to a study by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Reichman University in Israel published in the journal Nature Computational Science. The analysis, based on industry investment scenarios and the disposal of powerful computer chips every three years, did not account for other data center equipment like cooling systems. “We hope this work brings attention to the often-overlooked environmental impact of AI hardware,” said study author Asaf Tzachor according to the Washington Post. Most e-waste is not recycled and can expose workers in developing nations to harmful substances during manual disassembly.

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