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Steve Jones on the pros and cons of AI datacentres – cartoon

The Guardian

ENRICHED

Details

Date Published
12 Sept 2026
Priority Score
1
Australian
No
Created
12 Sept 2026, 12:00 pm

Authors (1)

Description

To drink or to think – that is the question

Summary

This editorial cartoon highlights the environmental trade-offs associated with the physical infrastructure required for frontier AI models, specifically focusing on water consumption and resource management. While it addresses the resource-intensive nature of AI development, it does not provide substantive analysis of catastrophic AI risks or governance frameworks. The piece serves as a cultural commentary on the environmental costs of scaling AI capabilities rather than a technical or policy-driven safety evaluation.

Body

Steve Jones on the pros and cons of AI datacentres – cartoonView image in fullscreen Illustration: Steve Jones/The GuardianExplore more on these topicsDatacentresSaturday Opinion cartoonAI (artificial intelligence)WaterComputing