Artificial intelligence, with its insatiable demand for resources, has an often-hidden footprint. This powerful video essay, narrated by renowned professor and author Kate Crawford, delves into a critical moment where the physical reality of AI’s reliance on rare minerals clashed head-on with the undeniable force of climate change. We travel to a town whose very existence is foundational to the development of AI, as its unique mineral deposits are essential for the advanced technologies we use daily. But the story takes a dramatic turn when Hurricane Helene makes landfall, revealing the profound vulnerabilities at the intersection of technological advancement and environmental crisis. Crawford, a leading voice in understanding the social implications of AI and a senior principal researcher at Microsoft Research, offers a compelling, first-hand perspective on the urgent need to address AI’s environmental impact before it’s too late. This video is approximately 5 minutes and 43 seconds in duration.
Portland Residents Sue ICE Over Persistent Tear Gas Exposure in Their Homes
For months, residents living near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, have endured a harrowing reality:...