James O’Donnell

Join James O'Donnell, a Senior AI reporter at MIT Technology Review, as he dives into the environmental impact of AI. He reveals how much energy and water AI actually consumes, comparing it to everyday appliances. O'Donnell discusses the myth of AI's environmental devastation and the reality behind data center demands. He also examines the challenges of using renewable energy and the nuanced effects on local water supplies. Spoiler: using AI isn’t as dire as it sounds, but thoughtful use is encouraged!

James O'Donnell, a senior reporter at MIT Technology Review with expertise in AI and defense, shares insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping warfare. He discusses the practical uses of AI in military logistics and cyber operations. Concerns about human oversight vs. autonomous weapons are explored, highlighting the risks of AI making battlefield decisions. O'Donnell also addresses the challenges of AI hallucinations in military intelligence and debates around international regulations on AI in defense. Lastly, he compares the military AI capabilities of the US and China.

James O'Donnell, senior AI reporter at MIT Technology Review, covers AI systems and data centers. Casey Crownhart, senior climate reporter at MIT Technology Review, investigates tech's environmental impacts. They translate AI energy into microwave-time analogies. They explain training versus inference, per-query energy for text, images and video, reasoning models' higher costs, data center cooling and water use, and local grid and infrastructure effects.