1、 United States Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional Requesters TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT Artificial Intelligence Generative AIs Environmental and Human Effects April 2025 GAO-25-107172 The cover image displays stylized selected factors to consider in evaluating the environmental and

2、human effects of generative artificial intelligence.Cover source:GAO.|GAO-25-107172 United States Government Accountability Office Highlights of GAO-25-107172,a report to congressional requesters April 2025 TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT Artificial Intelligence Generative AIs Environmental and Human Effects

3、What GAO found Generative artificial intelligence(AI)could revolutionize entire industries.In the nearer term,it may dramatically increase productivity and transform daily tasks in many sectors.However,both its benefits and risks,including its environmental and human effects,are unknown or unclear.G

4、enerative AI uses significant energy and water resources,but companies are generally not reporting details of these uses.Most estimates of environmental effects of generative AI technologies have focused on quantifying the energy consumed,and carbon emissions associated with generating that energy,r

5、equired to train the generative AI model.Estimates of water consumption by generative AI are limited.Generative AI is expected to be a driving force for data center demand,but what portion of data center electricity consumption is related to generative AI is unclear.According to the International En

6、ergy Agency,U.S.data center electricity consumption was approximately 4 percent of U.S.electricity demand in 2022 and could be 6 percent of demand in 2026.While generative AI may bring beneficial effects for people,GAO highlights five risks and challenges that could result in negative human effects