A researcher from Luleå University of Technology has issued a stark warning about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, comparing AI to "playing with fire" due to its massive resource requirements. According to Johan Hansson, a researcher in applied physics at LTU, AI's energy consumption and resource usage are not receiving enough attention despite their significant environmental consequences.
Hansson stated that while reducing energy and resource consumption is the simplest way to address the climate crisis, AI will "multiply electricity consumption enormously." He specifically warned that AI energy consumption could increase by 300 percent. The researcher also highlighted that drinking water is used to cool AI servers, noting that "you can't use just any water" because the systems are sensitive.
playing with fire
According to Hansson, conditions in Norrbotten are different because the cold climate can be utilized, but in places like Virginia, many communities already face water shortages. The warning comes as a 2025 survey by Internetstiftelsen reportedly found that one in five Swedes now use AI as a search engine instead of Google, indicating growing adoption of the technology.
multiply electricity consumption enormously
you can't use just any water