The Price of Progress: Tech, Data, and Our Planet

The glittering promise of technological progress, from the entertainment spectacle of Las Vegas's Sphere to the relentless march of AI, often conceals a staggering environmental cost. Our digital world is drowning in data, projected to reach 175 zettabytes by 2025 and a yottabyte by 2030 – a scale so immense it equates to every person on Earth carrying 300 iPhones. This deluge places unprecedented strain on critical infrastructure; consider that data centers already consume 21% of Ireland's electricity, with AI's power demands escalating this challenge dramatically. Most startling, 68% of the data we store is "single-use garbage," generating more emissions than the entire airline industry. This Tech Flix documentary peels back the curtain on the invisible carbon footprint of our digital lives, exposing an industry that too often relies on the hope that "someone else is going to pick up the bar tab".
 
Yet, is technology truly the problem, or can it also be our most potent solution? This film delves into the complex trade-offs and human decisions shaping our digital future. We explore the critical questions about corporate responsibility, the innovative potential of low-energy AI and quantum computing, and the search for balance in an era of unprecedented data demand. Watch the full documentary below, as we challenge assumptions and push for a more thoughtful, honest tech culture, revealing the real impact and the urgent need for proactive solutions to the climate crisis.
 
This is our fifth Tech Flix documentary, which explores the hidden sustainability impact of AI, cloud storage, and unstructured data and asks leading voices from within the tech industry what the answer is. David Savage, Harvey Nash Technology Evangelist, spotlights some of the very real challenges and potential costs of our pursuit of innovation in this latest film.
 

Key Takeaways for the film:

The Hidden Cost of Data & AI:

  • Unused data is driving up energy consumption, creating an overlooked sustainability crisis.
  • AI’s demand for power is increasing—without smarter data practices, its environmental impact will spiral.

From Innovation to Accountability:

  • Businesses must rethink data storage and AI usage to reduce waste and carbon footprint.
  • Sustainable data strategies can cut costs, improve efficiency, and drive responsible innovation.

Solving the AI Energy Challenge:

  • Companies have the tools to make AI and cloud computing greener—so why aren’t they using them?
  • The tech industry must step up before data inefficiency becomes a climate disaster.

 

Tech Flix

Tech Flix is an innovative and thought-provoking docuseries hosted by Nash Squared Tech Evangelist, David Savage, that delves deep into the dynamic world of technology, where cutting-edge innovation meets human ingenuity. In this captivating exploration, David embarks on a journey to unravel various aspects of the tech universe, from the pioneers shaping our digital future to the ethical dilemmas that arise in an ever-connected world.
Find all the Tech Flix documentaries here.