Your AI tools run on fracked gas and bulldozed Texas land, exposing the hidden environmental cost of the AI boom.
Matilda
AI’s Dirty Secret: Fracked Gas Powers Your Tools Your AI Tools Run On Fracked Gas And Bulldozed Texas Land The AI revolution has a hidden cost — and it’s not just data privacy or jobs. Your AI tools run on fracked gas and bulldozed Texas land , fueling an unexpected comeback for one of America’s most controversial industries. Image Credits:Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle / Getty Images As the race to build smarter, faster, and more capable AI systems accelerates, energy demand is soaring. Companies are erecting massive data centers across Texas, many powered directly by fossil fuels. It’s a stark reminder that the digital future still relies heavily on old-world energy. Fracking Gets A Second Act In The Age Of AI The AI era is giving fracking a surprising second act. Even during its 2010s boom, fracking drew fierce criticism for polluting water tables, triggering man-made earthquakes, and extending the life of fossil fuels. Now, with AI’s insatiable hunger for computing power, the practice is quietly making a comeback. Instead of powering ca…