Donald Trump told reporters that his team might buy US stakes in artificial-intelligence companies and said he would host a meeting with AI executives as soon as next week https://t.co/PEEBpte0jN
Data centers powering artificial intelligence are projected to consume roughly twice as much electricity and water by 2030 as they do today, according to a new report from United Nations researchers.
Although AI is often perceived as intangible cloud-based technology, every query, image, or video relies on a massive physical infrastructure of servers, cooling systems, power grids, chips, land, and water.
In 2025, global data centers used approximately 448 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, more than the total consumption of Saudi Arabia. AI accounted for about one-fifth of that demand. These facilities also consumed around 1.2 trillion gallons (4.5 trillion liters) of water and emitted roughly 189 million tons of carbon dioxide.
By 2030, researchers forecast that annual electricity consumption by data centers will rise to 945 TWh, roughly equivalent to Japan’s current total electricity use, with AI expected to drive 40% of the total. Water consumption is projected to double to about 2.5 trillion gallons (9.3 trillion liters) per year. The physical land footprint could also expand from roughly 2,664 square miles (6,900 km²) today to more than 5,600 square miles (14,500 km²).
The surge stems from the immense computational demands of training and running advanced AI models, which require powerful chips running continuously and generate substantial heat that must be managed through energy- and water-intensive cooling.
The report emphasizes that AI is not inherently unsustainable. The technology offers potential benefits for optimizing energy systems, reducing waste, and improving efficiency across industries. However, the rapid pace of AI infrastructure development risks outstripping environmental planning, particularly in regions already facing resource constraints. Massive new data centers could intensify competition for electricity and water with communities, agriculture, and natural ecosystems.
[Aczel, M., Chamanara, S., Matin, M., Farsi, A., Marwala, T., & Madani, K. (2026). Environmental Cost of AI’s Energy Use: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)]
This is fucking insane.
The Trump DOJ just stood in federal court and said with a straight face that the authoritarian regime could bulldoze the Statue of Liberty tomorrow — and there's nothing anyone could do about it.
When a judge asked point-blank: "If the government decides to destroy the Statue of Liberty before anyone can sue… nothing can be done?" The DOJ lawyer answered: "I think that's right, yes."
Let that sink in.
They're openly admitting they believe Trump has the power to erase one of America's most sacred symbols — the literal beacon of freedom for millions of immigrants — and the courts can't stop them in time.
This is authoritarian, dangerous, un-American bullshit.
The Statue of Liberty isn't their property to demolish on a whim. It belongs to the American people.
Wake the hell up, y'all!
The enchanting sight of fireflies lighting up summer nights could soon become a thing of the past.
Some researchers warn that current generations may be the last to witness the magical glowing courtship displays of these beloved beetles. Firefly populations are declining rapidly around the world, driven primarily by habitat destruction, widespread pesticide use, rising temperatures, and light pollution that interferes with their ability to communicate and reproduce in the dark.
As important predators of garden pests and sensitive indicators of ecosystem health, the disappearance of fireflies signals deeper environmental problems. Conservationists are calling for urgent action, including wetland restoration, reduced nighttime lighting, and more sustainable farming practices to protect remaining populations.
Without swift intervention, future generations may only know the wonder of fireflies through old stories and glowing screens.
The statement that “we may be the last generation to see fireflies” is based on real scientific concerns about firefly declines:
[1] “Evaluating firefly extinction risk: Initial red list assessments for North America.”
PLOS ONE, 16(11), e0259379.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259379
[2] McNeil, D. J., et al. (2024)
“Illuminating patterns of firefly abundance using citizen science data.”
Science of The Total Environment.
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers may be linked to intelligence-gathering efforts involving the NSA and CIA, according to John Kiriakou.