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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)
- Steve JonesNEW
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