AI’s environmental impact is especially relevant to contemporary society as we navigate a global climate crisis. It’s crucial to understand and consider how our AI use negatively impacts existing environmental challenges. The article we discussed in class today, The Uneven Distribution of AI’s Environmental Impacts, mentioned a key point that I think is important for all AI users to be aware of.

“the training process for a single AI model, such as a large language model, can consume thousands of megawatt hours of electricity and emit hundreds of tons of carbon. This is roughly equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of hundreds of households in America. Furthermore, AI model training can lead to the evaporation of an astonishing amount of fresh water into the atmosphere for data center heat rejection, potentially exacerbating stress on our already limited freshwater resources.” (https://hbr.org/2024/07/the-uneven-distribution-of-ais-environmental-impacts)

AI’s environmental impact matters now more than ever. Contemporary society is running out time to undo the environmental damage we have already done, and AI is only contributing to the problem. This statement encourages users to question the convenience of AI, and consider real world costs of continued unregulated AI use. The article also covered how the benefits of AI are often concentrated in wealthier, tech-driven regions, while the environmental burdens (like water shortages and energy use) are pushed off to lower-income or marginalized communities. I want to reiterate that this issue is important because it reveals the hidden cost of technological process that WILL directly impact all of our futures.

For me, the key to developing my own framework on AI use is transparency and balance. I think AI can be a great tool if we’re honest about how we use it as and make a conscience effort to not let it replace our own thinking. What we prompt, how we respond, and why we create helps us express ideas in new and effective ways. Most importantly, I want to make a conscious effort to stay aware of AI’s ethical and environmental impacts. That means being selective about the tools I use and continuing to ask questions about who creates AI, who it serves, and what consequences it may have in my community.