How Your Convenience is Impacted by AI: Uncovering the Hidden Costs for Our Climate

I’ve been a vegetarian for seven years. As a child, I often felt overwhelmed by big issues like climate change and global conflicts. I thought I was alone in this feeling, but I’ve found that many young people share the same concerns. Choosing vegetarianism was my way of pushing back against these massive problems. It was my way of making a positive change for the planet, even if it sometimes felt inconvenient.

Today, climate change remains one of the biggest challenges we face. I believe that tackling these enormous issues starts small. For me, it was changing my diet to address the harmful greenhouse gas emissions tied to meat production. Now, there’s a new challenge we must consider: the environmental impact of artificial intelligence.

AI is incredibly accessible, but it has serious sustainability issues. It consumes a lot of energy and water. While it offers many benefits, we need to recognize its cost to our environment. Each small decision we make about using AI can contribute to a larger movement of change. For example, just by reducing how often we rely on AI for everyday tasks, we can help alleviate its environmental impact.

Training the AI system GPT-3 requires a staggering amount of energy, enough to power 130 homes for a year. Most of this energy comes from fossil fuels rather than renewable sources. Recent projections suggest that by 2030, AI data centers may use 8% of the total energy consumed in the United States, a worrying trend as climate change escalates.

Furthermore, a single 100-word message created by tools like ChatGPT can use 519 milliliters of water just for cooling, which is more than the amount in a typical plastic bottle. Comparatively, an ordinary Google search uses only 0.3 watt-hours of energy, while an AI-driven search uses about 2.9 watt-hours. These figures reveal the significant hidden costs associated with our increasing dependence on AI.

People often use AI without realizing it. We have the right to know how much energy different platforms use and make informed choices about our digital habits. With AI’s potential to increase efficiency and productivity, we must also weigh its environmental costs. As we become more reliant on technology, we need to stay mindful of its impact on our planet.

History shows that individuals can unite for a cause and create meaningful change. For instance, in 1778, British abolitionists boycotted sugar produced by slave labor, significantly reducing sales and raising awareness about slavery. More recently, in 1965, a grape boycott led to better working conditions for farm laborers. These examples remind us that individual actions can lead to significant corporate accountability. By reducing our use of AI, we can collectively encourage tech companies to adopt more sustainable practices.

A study revealed that 86% of students now use AI in their studies. Ironically, those who rely heavily on AI tools often won’t bear the brunt of their environmental impact. Vulnerable regions like South Sudan and Bangladesh are already feeling the effects of climate change, while many AI workers are underpaid and overworked. This disparity amplifies the urgency for a more responsible approach to technology.

AI may be a tool for the future, but until we can make it sustainable, it’s wise to think critically about our reliance on it. Reducing our AI usage is one of the simplest actions we can take to fight back against climate change.

It’s tempting to lean on AI for increased productivity, but the environmental costs are too great. Remember, your choices have power. Using AI less can help reduce the strain on our planet. Small actions, like choosing vegetarianism or limiting technology use, can collectively drive change. If more people make mindful choices, we can protect our environment and preserve our future.

Elena Nicholson is an Opinion Columnist from Basking Ridge, NJ. She writes about environmental issues and climate change in her column “Climate Watch.”

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