Rethinking AI’s Environmental Impact | Ivanka Lee | TEDxNanshan Salon

Ivanka Lee describes how holding a silicon wafer in a cleanroom changed her view of artificial intelligence. She came to see AI as a physical system that depends on energy, water and scarce materials, not only as a virtual tool. The talk looks at the environmental cost of the AI boom and asks how intelligence can grow without causing lasting damage to the planet.

• A silicon wafer viewed in a cleanroom shows the physical base of AI chips
• AI depends on energy, water and fragile resources
• The environmental cost of the AI boom
• Ways to scale AI with less environmental harm

Holding a silicon wafer under Penn’s orange cleanroom lights, Ivanka saw the building blocks of AI silicon chips. This moment changed her perspective on AI. She realised that this system isn’t just virtual, but deeply physical, built on energy, water, and fragile resources. In her thought-provoking talk, Ivanka reveals the environmental cost of AI boom and challenges us to build a future where intelligence scales without scorching the earth. 青年工程学者 多项国际理科奥赛金奖得主 This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx