AI 1980s photo trend highlights environmental concerns

A viral social media trend involving AI-generated 1980s-style retro portraits has gained traction among high-profile figures, including Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Indian Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Kiren Rijiju. While the trend provides nostalgic digital avatars for users, it has highlighted significant environmental concerns regarding artificial intelligence.

A study by the United Nations University (UNU) warns of the hidden ecological costs associated with such technology. Beyond the energy required to train large models, daily AI usage accounts for approximately 80% to 90% of total energy demand. The report notes that AI-related water consumption could match the annual domestic needs of 1.3 billion people by the end of the decade, and its land footprint could exceed 14,500 square kilometers.