Atlas of AI

Computational media now participate in geological (and climatological) processes, from the transformation of the earth’s materials into infrastructures and devices to the powering of these new systems with oil and gas reserves. AI's reliance on resources. Artificial intelligence is not an ethereal concept but a deeply material industry dependent on the extraction of Earth's resources. From lithium mines in Nevada to rare earth mineral deposits in Inner Mongolia, the creation of AI systems requires a vast supply chain of minerals, energy, and materials. This demand fuels environmentally destruc

Lesson 1: AI's Material Basis: Earth as an Extractive Industry

This principle from Atlas of AI is backed by Kate Crawford's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 2: The Human Cost: Labor Exploitation in AI Systems

This principle from Atlas of AI is backed by Kate Crawford's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 3: Data as Infrastructure: The Erasure of Context and Consent

This principle from Atlas of AI is backed by Kate Crawford's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

How to Apply Atlas of AI's Lessons

The real value of Atlas of AI lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Kate Crawford's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"AI's Material Basis: Earth as an Extractive Industry" — Kate Crawford, Atlas of AI

About the Author

Kate Crawford is the author of Atlas of AI. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.