AI Data Centers: Environmental Disaster or Groundbreaking Innovation?
KnowBe4, Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
KnowBe4's Attempted Intelligence podcast debates the electricity, water, noise and economic impact of AI data centers.
KnowBe4 summarizes episode two of its Attempted Intelligence podcast, in which Matt Duren and Harlan Parrott debate AI data centers.
They framed the discussion around global versus local effects on electricity, water, noise and community economics.
Parrott noted that data centers used about 1.5% of global electricity in 2024.
Duren countered that data center demand grew 17% in 2025, far faster than overall electricity growth.