AI is thirstier than humans
A thought on our technological utopian dream
AI is thirstier than humans. AI is hungrier than humans. We have created a technological beast that competes with us for the most basic resources.
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In theory, humanity is hurtling toward a future of utopia sustained by technological progress. In reality, we are creating technological beasts that compete with us for the most basic resources: water, energy, land.
In a mercantile society, resources can be allocated only to that which produces capital value. If biological means of production are more costly than technological means of production, why would natural resources be shared with unproductive humans?
In this utopian future, humans will be freed of labour but not free to roam the Earth, not free to consume Earth’s resources, not free from the bondage of technological consumption.
We thought technology would be an appendage of life on this planet, instead life is becoming an appendage of technology.
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Cognitive Ecology is a philosophical notebook being written in public and collected in print at the end of 2026. You’re reading it as it takes shape. Start from the beginning here.
Thank you for reading,
—Claudia Befu
For those interested, here’s some further reading:
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1116327/ai-energy-usage-climate-footprint-big-tech/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/libertbarry/2025/11/03/ai-versus-humans--the-race-for-natural-resources/
"instead life is becoming an appendage of technology." Very true, Claudia. Things feel pretty bleak at the moment.