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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Robert Booth UK technology editor

AI boom has caused same CO2 emissions in 2025 as New York City, report claims

United States Google Donald Campbell Electricity IEA International Energy Agency
The New York City skyline with snowy trees in foreground
The New York City skyline on Sunday after the season's first snowfall. Photograph: Federico Torres/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The AI boom has caused as much carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere in 2025 as emitted by the whole of New York City, it has been claimed.

The global environmental impact of the rapidly spreading technology has been estimated in research published on Wednesday, which also found that AI-related water use now exceeds the entirety of global bottled-water demand.

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