ChatGPT has now been around for four years, ever since then, I have come across people with a variety of approaches to it. While some started to use it as their main tool of research, others are more critical and try to avoid using it.
However, with the further development of generative AI it‘s presence in our daily life can no longer be ignored. More and more apps like Whatsapp have started to include an AI feature into the normal functions of the app with the aim to create a more efficient and convenient user experience. Like that, as soon as we open our phones, we face the option to interact with a Chatbot or another type of AI. Since an update google made last year, the first result on google is generated by Gemini, Google‘s AI.
We constantly have the opportunity to take a shortcut to research, producing texts or brainstorming.
The circumstances to outsource our brain activity are given but what really makes the difference is the way we deal with the permanent presence of generative artificial intelligence. This type of AI, also referred to as GenAI, is based on models trained by humans that can generate all different types of media such as text, videos or pictures.
An overly use of it can have significant effects not only on social interactions and our personal life but also on the acceleration of climate change and therefore our environment.
What using GenAI means for the individual
In my personal life, I see people approaching GenAI in a lot of different ways. While some of my friends have done the simplest tasks whith ChatGPT‘s help, like asking it for recipes or setting a timer, others told me that they wish we could just unplug the data centers of generative AI and set an end to this “epidemic“.
One way of using GenAI most of us are familiar with is using it for a quick research or letting it do our homework. In these cases we mostly consider convenience. But while we suppose that we are just accelerating our workflow, we risk losing vital research skills. We no longer have to decide which sources fit our search and skim the text to find the information we need. If these competences diminish the risk of not being able verify potentially wrong AI answers rises and we become dependent on it‘s answers.
One of the most essential abilities in order to be able to use AI consciously and in a responsible way is our critical thinking. This skill allows us to evaluate situations, make reasonable judgements and question decisions of authorities.
It also enables us to think for ourselves and to notice when AI is giving misleading or wrong answers.
The paradox we are facing now is that the more we use AI, the less our critical thinking skills are trained, but at the same time, we need them more than ever to verify the truthfulness of its output.
When we start to overly rely on AI generated answers, there is a risk of shrinkage in our critical thinking abilities, especially if we use AI to build our opinion. Most of us probably wouldn’t directly ask ChatGPT questions like “What’s your opinion on XY“ but simple questions like “Is XY good or bad?“ can lead to similar results. Especially because Chatbots build their answers based on the way we ask the question, we are likely to get a biased answer in which AI presents what it assumes will please us instead of giving us a balanced explanation.
A more counterbalanced answer can be achieved by formulating our question in a way that includes both or more sides.
However, AI research cannot and should not replace the decision making rooted in our critical thinking. Even though AI can generate true facts, we have to consider our view on that matter, look for reliable sources and logical arguments.
Moreover, we should always remember that GenAI is not 100% reliable, due to its training on large data sets, it is prone to errors and biases. Thus, it‘s answers should always be checked and we should never solely rely on AI‘s answers.
What using GenAI means for the climate and environment
Right now using AI with a balance and a conscious approach might seem quite attractive as it can make repetitive tasks less tiring or help you to find the right sources.
And while GenAI surely has its perks, one substantial aspect, putting its usefulness into perspective, are the harsh effects it has on the climate and the environment.
The main impact is driven by the data centers needed to power AI. This is where the computing infrastructure is kept. When the infrastructure is being used, it creates heat just like your computer that has been running for a long time. If these Data Centers, so to say the brains of GenAI, are not properly cooled the heat can lead to inefficiency and malfunctions. Thus air-conditioning or water cooling is inevitable.
As AI chips generate significantly more heat than the ones used to power regular search engines, more cooling is required this also means more water and energy is used during the process. The demand of both is drastically increasing in areas with an agglomeration of data centers. The water used is mostly supplied from fresh water sources which can pose a challenge to the area’s water supply. Particularly during summer when the water volume required for cooling increases but the water supply naturally shrinks due to hot temperatures, we risk even more severe shortages.
With an increased amount of GenAI usage and training also the electricity demand is rising. As approximately 65% of electricity is still generated with fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide footprint makes up an essential part of the environmental impact.
These two impacts are pretty straight forward and easy to see but the high demand and incorporation of AI in various fields also kicks off the construction of even more new data centers. The construction requires extensive amounts of resources including rare earth elements that are commonly gained by exploiting nature and people in the areas of its occurrence. Inhumane working conditions, child labour and the destruction of local ecosystems are just a part of the cruel reality of producing micro chips that won’t last forever.
So when you use GenAI remember what goes on beyond your phone, it is not just your phone battery needing electricity, but many times that to make AI work!
Finding a responsible approach
Our technologies are advancing and will always continue to, so we can’t just close our eyes and ignore this development. We have to find a way of using GenAI in a way that we profit from it but don’t overly rely on it.
The first step to find an approach that works for you, is to be aware of the risks and the effects it has
Then, whenever you want to make use of AI, you can ask yourself if this is a task or query that AI is really required for and that rectifies the resources used or if it is just a matter of comfort and easiness.
Even though you don‘t pay for the use of AI with money, we pay with a shift in our brains and an acceleration of climate change.
Remember to never trust AI blindly and question it‘s results. And even though we hate to hear it, doing the research or formulating a text by ourselves actually trains our brains and gives you a feeling of accomplishment when you‘re finished.
If the topic of AI interests you and you want to hear how GenAI can influence a drawing competition, I warmly recommend taking a look at this article: https://balkanhotspot.org/art-culture/scrutinising-ai-art/
