Shaolei Ren

Shaolei Ren, an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC Riverside, examines the hidden costs of AI. They discuss the environmental footprint of AI compared to conventional transport, highlighting issues like energy consumption and air pollution. Ren emphasizes the overlooked water usage in data centers, particularly in water-scarce areas. The conversation calls for transparency among tech companies and better public awareness of AI's sustainability challenges, urging a reevaluation of its role in our lives.