Microsoft buys over $1B worth of poop to counter pollution caused by AI

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Microsoft is spending over a billion dollars to flush its emissions down the drain… literally.

The tech titan has entered an agreement with Vaulted Deep to store approximately 4.9 million metric tons of carbon using a mixture of human and agricultural waste, which will be buried 5,000 feet beneath the earth’s surface. This innovative strategy aims to counterbalance the greenhouse gas emissions produced by Microsoft’s rapidly expanding AI domain.

In simpler terms, as reported by Inc and Tom’s Hardware, the price to eliminate a ton of CO2 using this method is approximately $350. This means that Microsoft’s deal could exceed $1.7 billion, although neither company has disclosed the precise amount.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “Usually, game cartridges and other electronic waste end up in landfills, get tossed into waterways, or simply scattered across the land. In these scenarios, they break down releasing CO2 and methane, fueling global warming. Worst of all, when spread on land, these items can seep directly into our groundwater, potentially contaminating it with harmful pathogens.

Microsoft is using poop to counter AI slop

Instead of creating a mixture, the system combines various wastes such as biosolids, manure, and food waste into a thick paste, followed by its injection into deep underground structures that are isolated from the earth’s surface.

Each ton of carbon trapped is earned Microsoft a carbon removal certificate, essentially erasing its paper emissions and enhancing its environmental reputation.

The procedure might initially seem ominous, reminiscent of a dystopia, yet it’s currently being employed in urban areas such as Los Angeles and Derby, Kansas. Backed by Microsoft, Vaulted Deep is aiming for significant expansion.

Reichelstein stated that Vaulted provides a two-pronged approach. It addresses immediate waste management issues, while also contributing significantly to both climate and community health enhancements,” or simply, “Vaulted’s solution tackles urgent waste management problems and brings about noticeable improvements in climate and public health.

Microsoft’s Brian Marrs likened the company to a waste management firm evolving into a carbon dioxide reduction company, and he attributed the decision to its multi-benefit approach.

In simple terms, the 4.9 million tons contributed by Vaulted Deep further intensifies Microsoft’s ambitious plan for reducing carbon emissions, as they had also acquired 59 million tons from other projects in the year 2025 alone.

AI could potentially shape our future, but it’s creating an unsightly mess along the way. Microsoft’s response? Hide the issue, including all the waste that comes with it.

It’s not just Microsoft that’s involved in purchasing fecal matter; a Japanese pharmaceutical company disclosed back in June that they too are paying for it. However, their interest is specifically in “healthy” stool samples.

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2025-07-21 18:48