Have you ever wondered how much we are exposed to environmental risks on a daily basis? According to research, the CO₂ emission rate increased by 0.8% in 2024. This increased rate of CO₂ emission leads to significant depletion of the ozone layer, poor water and air quality, and the generation of e-waste. Today, one of the major causes of this rapid depletion of our natural resources is the growing technology.
xAI is also contributing to this increase in pollution. According to the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) report, xAI is running 35 natural-gas-powered turbines. These generators use natural gas to generate electricity and produce carbon monoxide, which leads to ozone layer depletion. This is a growing threat with the increased use of technology, whether it’s AI or something else.
Progress does not mean to pollute the environment. Elon Musk’s xAI might be shaping the future of tech, but it doesn’t warrant breaking rules or destroying the environment. This is not about just one company that is breaking the rules; it’s about setting a dangerous system. If these firms ignore environmental regulations, what kind of precedent is being set? What are the true priorities here? These threats call for immediate intervention.
In our everyday lives, we rely on technology even for our most basic needs, which directly or indirectly affects the natural gas resources. Moreover, with increasing AI requirements, the electricity demand also rises because huge turbines are used to generate electricity for training AI models. As technology is being improved everyday to ease our lives, we need to pay attention to the conservation of our resources too. This is where sustainable technology comes in. The technology that helps us to live better, protects natural resources, minimizes negative environmental effects, and raises economic and social health should be our only focus. The choice is ours, will we save our planet or will we watch it get wrecked to the point of no return.
County regulators yesterday granted xAI permits to operate 15 natural gas turbines at its data center outside Memphis, despite the threat of a lawsuit. Elon Musk’s AI company has been operating as many as 35 generators without permits, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) said.