The AI data center e-waste problem is huge — and getting bigger

A report from Basel Action Network warns that e-waste from AI data centers has been significantly underestimated. By 2050, it could produce 395 to 617 million metric tons of e-waste, equivalent to filling 23 million shipping containers. The study expands the count to include all supporting infrastructure like power, cooling, and networking, as well as 'AI Waste Contagion' from obsolescent devices. This could represent 15 to 20 percent of total global e-waste, which is projected to triple by 2050. Current recycling rates are low, and improper disposal poses health risks, especially in informal sectors.

(Source：The Verge)