AI, also known as artificial intelligence, is everywhere now, from a simple Google search with an AI overview to AI in a teacher’s lessons. Almost everyone knows what it is, and have begun to use it in classrooms. However, with the excessive usage of AI many environmental problems are arising.
Artificial intelligence is technology that allows machines and computers to perform complex human-like tasks such as thinking, problem solving and decision-making. With this technology, there are many different ways AI is used in daily life. One such way is people utilizing an AI bot called ChatGPT, created by the company Open AI.
According to Forbes, ChatGPT has 14.68 billion visits, with it being in the top 50 AI platforms. Users of the AI chat bot use text or voice to ask or talk about anything. The AI will then provide an automated response based on what the user prompted.
This can be good for everyday activities; however, the problem is what people are using it for. Many students now use AI to finish their assignments, and as well, many educators use it to create lesson plans and assignments. Teachers are using AI to check for AI in student’s assignments, essays or tests.
“I use AI to check for AI in all students’ major test grade essays,” stated English teacher Mitch Billingsley. “I don’t really use AI. I usually Google things and just read the AI overviews, but if we’re counting AI overviews as AI, then I use it all the time.”
A survey from The74 reports that 60% of teachers now use AI to save time. Data shows that 84% of teachers use AI tools for creating worksheets, assignments, projects or activities.
Teachers were also surveyed on teaching, administrative work, grading, tutoring and assessments. The results showed that teachers use AI tools on more than 50% of the listed categories. Teachers aren’t the only ones accountable for the uptick in AI use though.
History teacher Emily Peery revealed, “I check anything I find suspicious. Run it through multiple AI checkers and if it pops up on both, then they will have to redo the assignment or accept a zero.”
Studies from College Board show that the percentage of high school students using AI chatbots grew from 79% to 84% just in May 2025. Many students are using these AI chatbots for homework, essays, research or even just typical assignment answers on daily work. If students use AI for everything, then they aren’t truly learning anything. With the reliance on AI, students won’t be able to figure anything out for themselves, and will soon forget everything they “learned.” This shows how often AI is used just in the classroom by teachers and students. Another harmful effect of AI prompts is that they’re slowly harming our earth.
ChatGPT uses a load of electricity, according to Forbes. ChatGPT consumes over half a million kilowatts of electricity each day. This amount of electricity is enough to power about 180,000 American households. Since ChatGPT AI requires a lot of electricity, water is needed to cool their servers.
On average, a single conversation with AI uses about one plastic water bottle. With users prompting many conversations with the AI all at once, gallons of water are being wasted per day. A report from Forbes states that by 2050, two-thirds of the population will suffer from water shortages if users continue to use AI.
Water supply is not the only thing AI is affecting in the environment. According to Earth.com, ChatGPT produces around 573,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) each month. CNN Climate states that complex AI prompts use up to six times more carbon emissions. Research from NASA explains that CO2 is what keeps our planet warm. Without it, Earth would be too cold. The excessive amount of CO2 emissions created by AI usage is making our planet become warmer over time.
Students and teachers should reconsider using AI, if you think about the negative effects it has on our planet. AI is slowly killing Earth, creating a water shortage and excessive carbon dioxide emissions.
One thing users can do to help the planet is to stop using Google, and switch to Ecosia. It’s a search engine that plants trees, and has stopped using AI entirely. However, if users truly do need to use AI, try to find an AI application that’s more eco-friendly, and avoid ChatGPT due to its harmful effects on our planet.