AI and Environmental Racism

Natalie Ureno

Natalie discusses the ways in which Artificial Intelligence usage and infrastructure harms our environment and our communities, especially BIPOC communities. AI advancement is driven by profit and relies on data centers that require large amounts of electricity, energy, and water resources. This produces CO2 emissions, hazardous pollutants, and toxic waste. AI perpetuates environmental racism by burdening marginalized communities with the negative consequences of its resource demands. Natalie makes the argument that even though AI is everywhere, we can always limit our usage.

Check out Natalie’s one-pager here, and her presentation here.