📅 Wednesday 15th July 2026 | 🕐 13:00–14:00
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AI and metabolism: Water and energy consumption of Artificial Intelligence
In this talk, Joe will present his co-authored work on ‘The nature of AI: Metabolism, energy, water, labour and justice in the urban political ecology of artificial intelligence‘. The integration of vast volumes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into the built environment is changing the metabolism of urban spaces. Because of AI’s substantial environmental costs, more resources are now needed to satisfy cities’ technological appetite. Marcus will follow on by talking about how to move from research into practical, actionable steps to manage and measure AI footprints.
About the Speakers
Joe Williams, formerly of Cardiff University, researching the emergence of ‘new’ or ‘unconventional’ water resources, particularly desalination and wastewater recycling. Unconventional water is seen by many as a potential game-changer for addressing global water challenges, but its use can also create or entrench problems. Joe co-authored a paper ‘The nature of AI: Metabolism, energy, water, labour and justice in the urban political ecology of artificial intelligence‘. His research currently focusses on Kenya, South Africa and Morocco. He is the Principle Investigator on the ERC-assessed, UKRI-funded project ‘Global development and the contradictions of new water‘.
Marcus Knight is the founder of Be Green AI and a specialist working at the intersection of digital innovation and environmental sustainability. He helps organisations address the resource-intensive impacts of AI, focusing on practical pathways toward sustainable implementation.
Through strategic advisory and specialised workshops, Marcus helps teams navigate the complexities of responsible AI adoption, ensuring that technological integration aligns with environmental protections and long-term sustainability goals.