Over the last few months, the use of generative artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, has surged. Many people may not realize that using AI can have serious unintended consequences. It’s not just about typing a request and getting an answer. The environmental and humanitarian costs of AI can be significant and might outweigh its advantages.
Chris Doran, a Religion and Sustainability Professor at Pepperdine, worries we are moving too fast with AI without proper safety measures. “We are certainly not having a larger societal discussion about what this means,” he notes. This rapid digitalization doesn’t mean we are using fewer physical resources. In fact, the data centers that support AI require a lot of energy and materials.
To run AI, we need big data centers, which are energy-hungry. The International Energy Agency predicts that by 2026, these centers could consume about 4% of the world’s electricity. Doran points out a significant issue: “There is no such thing as sufficient, clean energy for data centers.” Many tech giants still rely on fossil fuels, worsening environmental problems.
The UN has issued warnings about the greenhouse gases produced by these facilities. These data centers also use large amounts of water for cooling the machinery. A study from the University of California, Riverside, suggests that AI infrastructure could soon use six times more water than Denmark does.
Furthermore, building data centers requires precious materials, often sourced through harmful mining practices. Doran raises an important point about sustainability, mentioning that mining often happens near indigenous lands, which raises environmental justice concerns.
Some large companies, like Microsoft and Amazon, plan to use nuclear energy for their data centers. While nuclear energy is seen as a cleaner alternative, it produces radioactive waste, which poses dangers to both people and the environment. Indigenous communities often bear the brunt of these risks, with potential threats extending to future generations.
To tackle these challenges, the UN has suggested that countries encourage companies to adopt greener practices for their data centers. They’re urging the use of renewable energy and better alignment of AI policies with environmental regulations. The European Union has taken steps in this direction with its AI Act, but the U.S. lags behind in formulating comprehensive AI policies.
While our personal AI queries may seem harmless compared to the actions of big tech and governments, it’s crucial to start conversations about AI’s impact on our lives. Doran believes it’s essential for individuals to engage with their local leaders about these issues. “We need to think about this more carefully so that we have guard rails here,” he says.
We can make a difference by voicing our concerns and sharing knowledge about creating a more sustainable future.
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