About a month ago, it felt like everyone uploaded AI images of themselves on Facebook. I was confused because- why do you want to see yourself animated at work??? I didn’t get the appeal, and it deepened my hesitation about the evolution of AI.
Today, I’m doing a shallow dive into these AI waters.
I spoke with my sister, aka a seasoned expert in the energy sector and anti- AI advocate. She gave me a ton of resources, along with what she provided, and with my research, I’m passing on my thoughts about AI.
AI is everywhere. You literally cannot escape it, and probably have been using it more than you realize. Personally, I’ve used the Gemini “polish” feature for emails, and I’ll get ChatGPT to proofread my newsletter introductions for grammatical errors. I also use the free version of Grammarly (which I didn’t realize was AI until last year). With that being said, I’m concerned about the social, intellectual, and environmental implications of unrestricted, uninhibited AI usage. Today I’m focusing on the environment. Let’s talk about it.
Utilizing AI has and will continue to drive both energy and water bills higher and higher. Data centers power AI models. There are about 4000 data centers across the US and 3,000 planned. The power needed to run or maintain data centers is astronomical, but it’s hard to pin down an exact usage figure.
In addition to the power/energy consumed by data centers, water is a resource that’s abundantly needed to absorb heat from all the computing equipment so the processing chips won’t overheat. Large data centers consume almost 450 million gallons of water per day-that is insane! Why are we using AI to create images of us at work again??
Yes, there’s a place for generative AI, and yes, we cannot escape it, even if we try, but I’m stuck on the frivolous and self-serving uses. Often, AI is used for basic tasks, and brain power is turned off (which is another post.) Use your brain, people. Why don’t we want to think anymore?
Some folks simply don’t care. There are social, environmental, occupational (hello recent graduates who cannot get a job), mental, and digital health ramifications. We’ve been using AI for a few years- what will be the long-term effects on our health and well-being?
I listened to few podcasts over the past month about vibe-coding, which is AI-generated software. AI will code based on what you prompt. For instance, I’d put in the AI model: “Create a downloadable and printable wellness tracker that includes the 8 dimensions of wellness on my website. Use spring colors and create a how to use guide.” Depending on how complex my ask is, the AI will code and create a prototype within minutes (or longer.) Take a listen to learn more about vibe-coding- it’s mind-blowing.
The Journal -Vibe Coding Could Change Everything
The Daily- Can AI Already Do Your Job?
Today Explained-Everyone is Vibe Coding
AI is immediate, and it can be very helpful. So how can we use this aspect of tech and life that’s here to stay? What does responsible AI usage look like, and what does it mean to use it responsibly? Tap into your own brain and community. I, Jordan, have a responsibility to the Earth and to my well-being. I have a responsibility to ensure my daughter can think, communicate, and have emotional intelligence in a world with AI
With all this being said, this isn’t a condemnation. I don’t hate AI. This is a critical period in adopting and using AI, so let’s be thoughtful. Let’s care about one another.
Talk to me about AI- what are you thinking?
xo-
Jordan