Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET
C+M Center Speaker Series | Online webinar
A prompt on a screen depends on physical infrastructure: servers, electricity, cooling water, and data centers. In this C+M Center webinar, Ruopeng An examined AI’s environmental costs and the choices behind its growing use.
The session followed a prompt through the systems that power it, examining claims about AI’s environmental impact and the trade-offs involved in convenience and innovation. It also addressed practical approaches to using AI responsibly as data centers expand.
Dr. An is the Constance and Martin Silver Endowed Professor in Data Science and Prevention and Director of the C+M Center on Data Science and Social Equity.