Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become a defining feature of global strategic competition, with governments investing heavily in AI capabilities to strengthen economic competitiveness, technological leadership, and national security. While much of the discussion surrounding AI focuses on its transformative potential, less attention has been given to the broader implications of the infrastructure required to support its development. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into critical sectors, including healthcare, policymakers must also consider the public health consequences associated with its rapid expansion.
AI has already demonstrated significant potential to strengthen health systems. Machine learning has become a transformative tool that can improve diagnostic accuracy, support clinical decision-making and treatment planning, accelerate drug discovery, as well as enhance disease surveillance and outbreak forecasting. In their strategy Harnessing AI for Health, the World Health Organization has recognized AI as an important tool for improving health outcomes and advancing universal health coverage when implemented responsibly. AI-enabled surveillance systems also have the potential to strengthen preparedness for future public health emergencies by identifying emerging disease threats more quickly and improving resource allocation during outbreaks.
However, these benefits rely on an expanding network of data centres, high-performance computing facilities, semiconductor manufacturing, and global supply chains that require the utilization of substantial energy, water, and mineral resources. As countries race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems, the physical infrastructure supporting these technologies is placing growing demands on local communities and the environment. Recent research has highlighted that AI data centres require significant electricity consumption and water resources for cooling, raising concerns regarding long-term sustainability and resource management.
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure also carries important public health implications. Increased electricity generation to support data centres may contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, both of which are associated with adverse health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Researchers at Harvard University have recently emphasized that while AI offers considerable societal benefits, policymakers should also consider the health risks associated with emissions generated by the energy demands of AI infrastructure. Similarly, growing concerns have emerged regarding the cumulative health impacts of expanding data centre networks on surrounding communities, highlighting the need for further empirical research into environmental exposures and population health outcomes.
Beyond energy consumption, AI development is also driving increased demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements that are essential for advanced computing technologies. The extraction and processing of these materials may expose workers and surrounding communities to environmental contamination, occupational hazards, and water quality challenges if not managed responsibly. As global competition for these strategic resources intensifies, the health consequences of resource extraction become increasingly relevant to discussions of sustainable development and human security.
China currently dominates the processing and export of several minerals essential to semiconductor manufacturing, giving it significant influence over global technology supply chains. This concentration has prompted growing concern among NATO allies about the resilience of critical infrastructure and the security of emerging technologies. Diversifying supply chains has therefore become an important strategic priority to support AI innovation and reduce vulnerabilities that could disrupt healthcare systems and other critical services increasingly reliant on AI.
Canada has positioned itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence research while advancing a national strategy to strengthen responsible AI development and international partnerships. Although Canada is not a major producer of every mineral required for AI technologies, it possesses significant reserves of critical minerals and rare earth elements that support advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. Through its Critical Minerals Strategy and leadership in AI research, Canada has an opportunity to help diversify allied supply chains while promoting AI governance that balances innovation and public health.
For NATO allies, the AI race extends beyond technological innovation to include the resilience of critical infrastructure, secure supply chains, and the protection of essential services. In 2024, NATO released a revised version of their Artificial Intelligence Strategy that focuses on practical operationalization and identification of emerging threats. As AI becomes increasingly embedded within healthcare systems, emergency management, and critical infrastructure, governments must ensure that the technologies designed to strengthen resilience do not create new vulnerabilities through environmental degradation or resource insecurity. Incorporating public health considerations into AI governance will therefore be an important component of broader resilience planning.
These emerging challenges extend beyond environmental policy and increasingly intersect with global health security. Climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation are recognized as threat multipliers that can weaken health systems, increase disease burdens, and reduce societal resilience. AI has become a strategic priority for governments worldwide and ensuring that its development does not inadvertently undermine public health will require coordinated governance that considers both technological innovation and long-term resilience.
Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to improve global health through enhanced diagnostics, disease surveillance, and more resilient healthcare systems. At the same time, the infrastructure supporting AI development presents emerging challenges that cannot be overlooked. Balancing innovation with environmental sustainability, responsible resource management, and public health protection will be essential to ensuring that AI strengthens global health security without contributing to negative public health outcomes. As governments continue to compete for AI leadership, integrating health considerations into AI policy will be critical to building resilient societies capable of addressing the complex security challenges of the twenty-first century.
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NATO Association of Canada.
Image credit: AI Generated Healthcare Technology (published 2025), depicting digital healthcare technology and artificial intelligence in medicine, by Artful Color Works via Pixabay. Licensed under the Pixabay Content License.
