The Hidden Costs of AI

Quick 5-minute starter on the environmental footprint of AI and the data centres that power it.

Lesson Starter Responsible 5 min Beginner Discussion
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Preparation

  • Load slides 1–7 on the projector or board.
  • Optional: have one short article or graphic ready showing AI energy use or data centres.

Learning objectives

  • Understand that AI runs in physical data centres that use electricity and water
  • Recognise that AI has a carbon footprint linked to energy use and hardware
  • Consider how to balance the benefits of AI with its environmental costs

Instructions

  1. Display the title slide and introduce the idea that AI has hidden environmental costs Slide 1

    Keep the tone curious rather than alarming

  2. Show the Did You Know facts and read the key statistics aloud Slide 2

    Listen for students who assume digital activities are "free" for the planet because they are online.

  3. Ask "Every time you use AI it requires electricity and water — should we care?" — students discuss in pairs, then reveal answers Slide 3-4 Pair Discussion

    Listen for students who assume digital activities are free for the planet because they are online

  4. Ask "Who is responsible for AI's environmental impact?" — students discuss in pairs, then reveal answers Slide 5-6 Pair Discussion

    Draw out the shared responsibility angle — companies, governments, and users all play a role

  5. Display the Using AI Responsibly key takeaways and summarise Slide 7

    Keep the tone balanced — the goal is not to scare students away from AI but to promote thoughtful use

Key definitions

Data Centre
A facility housing thousands of computer servers that store and process data. AI relies on massive data centres that use large amounts of electricity (for computing) and water (for cooling).
Carbon Footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an activity. AI's carbon footprint comes from electricity generation, hardware manufacturing, and cooling systems in data centres.

Differentiation

Support

Provide a simple diagram of a data centre and a short glossary of key terms. Check understanding in small groups and allow extra thinking time.

Stretch

Invite students to research one real example of a data centre or AI service and estimate its potential carbon footprint using public sources.

SEND

Use visual supports and step-by-step explanations. Offer alternative ways to respond (spoken, written, or using sentence starters) for students who find open discussion challenging.

Extension activities

  • Ask students to design a short "eco‑smart AI use" poster or slide for your classroom, with 3 practical tips for using AI responsibly. Next lesson