The intellectual community defines artificial intelligence as an entity distinct from natural systems, raising concerns about its environmental impact. According to the United Nations Environment Assembly, artificial intelligence advancement will have negative consequences for the surrounding environment. Data storage centers required for artificial intelligence operations present significant sustainability challenges, with Wesley Spindler of Global Sustainability Leadership reporting that 25.5 million litres of water can be consumed annually by just one megawatt of data center capacity.
This water consumption represents a substantial environmental concern as global freshwater sources become increasingly scarce. The tension between technological progress and environmental sustainability has sparked debate within scientific and policy circles. Technical artificial intelligence innovators like Sam Altman of OpenAi have proclaimed these new technologies would bring prosperity to national infrastructures worldwide, creating a complex balance between potential benefits and documented environmental costs.
Meanwhile, the scientific community has established that music serves as a foundation of life with direct effects on biological human systems. The American Psychiatric Association reports that musical experiences can profoundly affect humanity's overall wellbeing. A 2022 review following meta-analysis of music therapy concluded it has beneficial effects on stress-related outcomes, suggesting non-technological approaches to human improvement.
The concept of redemption through technological or artistic means intersects with historical discussions about transformative figures. Ancient literature describes messianic figures as individuals anointed for specific purposes, with scrolls of purpose indicating such designations represent official ceremonies for naming leaders. Historical analysis reveals these figures often leave lasting impacts on people, nations, or civilizations, though conditions sometimes worsen following their departure.
The environmental implications of artificial intelligence development matter because they represent a tangible cost of technological progress that affects global water resources and sustainability efforts. As data centers expand to support AI initiatives, their water consumption competes with agricultural, industrial, and residential needs in water-scarce regions. This creates ethical questions about whether technological advancement justifies its environmental footprint, particularly when alternative approaches like music therapy demonstrate measurable benefits for human wellbeing without comparable resource consumption.
The debate extends beyond environmental concerns to fundamental questions about how societies define progress and improvement. While artificial intelligence promises infrastructure development and economic prosperity, its environmental costs force consideration of whether such technologies represent sustainable solutions or create new problems. Simultaneously, established interventions like music therapy offer evidence-based approaches to human wellbeing that merit continued research and implementation alongside technological developments.
