Campaigners Say AI Governance Discussions Aren’t Including Risks to Nature
As government representatives met in Geneva for the United Nations’ first discussions on global AI governance, environmental advocates warned that one critical issue has received little attention: the potential impact of AI on biodiversity and ecosystems. Debates about the environmental footprint of AI have largely centered on data centers’ energy and water consumption and carbon emissions. Campaigners argue that the conversation has ignored how the rapid expansion of AI could intensify pressure on natural resources across multiple industries. According to Campaign for Nature director Brian O’Donnell, AI has valuable applications in conservation, including tracking wildlife and monitoring forests. However, he…