Artificial intelligence is fast becoming part of the digital infrastructure supporting local governments across the UK. But how much will it cost us?
And by ‘us’ I don’t just mean the city, but our wider environment, society and planet’s future. A recent report from the UK Government Digital Sustainability Alliance reported that the water demand of AI technologies is likely to threaten global and national water security, especially in areas of existing water stress.
And if you think Scotland is a rainy country, so that couldn’t apply to us – think again! Scotland’s environment watchdog this September issued scarcity warnings for 17 river catchments, the highest ever.
And there is a growing body of evidence that the energy demand of data centres can’t be met by existing renewable sources.
Edinburgh Council previously agreed that environmental considerations must play a part in any position it takes on AI. We don’t have a formal council strategy yet, but one is coming and it must be watertight.
At a recent Planning Committee meeting, Greens pushed for AI data centres to pay developer contributions for renewable energy projects. We were told that the new data centre in question would use more power than the homes in Edinburgh and Glasgow combined. And yet bizarrely, it was considered there was no need to assess its environmental impact.
These proposals must receive proper scrutiny and transparency. People have the right to know when there is a site on their doorstep guzzling energy and water, and authorities need to factor this in to any approval request.
In Edinburgh the council has been quietly trialling the use of AI and automated systems for social workers to save significant administrative time and improve their quality of work. Making life easier for council workers is a good idea, as long as the environmental and social impacts don’t outweigh the benefits.
And if history shows us anything, it’s that we can’t trust the tech giants to do the right thing of their own accord. We need robust regulations and impact assessments, and authorities who are willing to say no to them when their claims don’t stack up.
The choices councils make today on digital adoption will ripple far beyond efficiency, shaping both local climate outcomes and public trust, far into the future.