What AI Must Learn from Roosevelt, Conservation, and the 1929 Crash

Ron Guerrier, CTO at Save the Children U.S., argues that the current artificial intelligence boom mirrors the speculative excesses of the 1920s, warning that unchecked growth could lead to significant societal and environmental risks. Drawing parallels to President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation efforts, Guerrier emphasizes that prosperity requires governing resource consumption rather than halting progress. He contends that AI development must address human, environmental, and institutional costs before scaling further. The article highlights that data center energy consumption is projected to double by 2030, underscoring the urgent need for stewardship. Guerrier defines sustainable AI not merely through efficient hardware, but by ensuring it supports worker dignity, maintains institutional legitimacy, and accounts for carbon and water impacts. He urges leaders to treat AI’s resource demands with the same seriousness as financial strategy and risk management, avoiding the fragile foundations that characterized the pre-1929 economic landscape. The piece serves as a call for proactive governance to ensure AI contributes to long-term resilience rather than short-term speculative gain.