Click Here Can AI fix its own energy problem?
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Jan 16, 2026 Stuart Clark, an IT professional and sustainable software advocate, dives into the hidden energy costs of AI and the internet. He discusses how AI's demand for power contributes to rising emissions and climate issues. Stuart shares his journey from hairdresser to coder and highlights shocking statistics on internet-related carbon footprints. He reveals how fixing inefficient code can drastically cut emissions—by up to 99%! The conversation emphasizes the potential of sustainable coding practices and AI tools to drive a cleaner tech future.
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The Internet's Hidden Carbon Appetite
- AI and the internet are consuming large and rising amounts of electricity and producing significant emissions.
- That invisible energy use is showing up in grids and household bills, revealing a hidden environmental cost.
From Hairdresser To Tech Insider
- Stuart Clark left hairdressing and taught himself to code, rising to work at major tech firms like Amazon and Spotify.
- His career shift put him in a position to notice the scale of the internet's energy consumption firsthand.
Data Centers Hide Their Footprint
- Data centers are intentionally opaque and highly secured, making energy and emissions auditing difficult.
- That secrecy complicates transparency efforts and public understanding of the internet's footprint.