It's not breaking news to say data centers are massive energy consumers. They use huge amounts of energy, often generated by fossil fuels, just to keep the power on, and they require incredible amounts of water to chill all the computer equipment. While lots of research is ongoing to be more efficient, there's no silver bullet solution just yet. 

Meanwhile, our insatiable appetite for information and our increasing usage of AI is requiring that even more resources be allocated to these data centers. As a society, we're aggressively contributing to a problem that we're concurrently trying to solve. It's akin to the cliche of trying to change a flat tire while still driving full speed ahead. We're heading down a dangerous path. 

AI and quantum computing have the ability to transform humanity and life on earth (and beyond). We're solving challenges in days or even hours that used to take centuries. Everything has sped up exponentially. And there's no turning back. How do you tell a genetics researcher to stop analyzing data or creating new models that could treat or eliminate disease? How do you halt programs that are just now creating breakthroughs that make the world a better place - even if they're also making the world a potentially more hazardous place?

These are the challenges we have to address today. We can't leave it for future generations to solve. 

So I ask you: How do we “pay” for the items we consume today without putting ourselves in such environmental debt that we aren't paralyzed by it in years to come?