Why that AI Ghibli trend - and AI - is bad for the planet

- abril 05, 2025

April 06, 2025

Dear readers,

When the internet lit up with enchanting, AI-generated images in the style of Studio Ghibli, it felt like a moment of wholesome unity (although people belatedly caught on to a debate over ethics and copyright infringements).

Behind the pastel skies and anime eyes lies a more sobering reality: The environmental cost of our growing dependence on generative AI.

From massive data centres guzzling electricity and water to the rare earth materials fuelling the hardware, the toll - largely unseen - is rising fast. As AI tools become embedded in everything from healthcare to real estate, can we balance innovation with sustainability?

In this week's Big Read, the second instalment of a two-part series on the negative effects of AI, CNA TODAY explores what it takes to make Gen AI greener, the tough trade-offs ahead and the voices calling for a smarter path forward.

Yours faithfully,
Yasmine Yahya
Deputy Chief Editor, CNA Digital (TODAY, Lifestyle & Luxury)

Out of sight, out of mind - thirsty, power-hungry Gen AI's hefty impact on the climate. Are we just going to ignore it?