Before using generative AI tools in your classes, review the syllabus for the instructor’s AI policy or consult your instructor directly.
AI has a big impact on the environment, mainly because it uses a lot of energy and resources. A major concern is the large amount of electricity needed to run the data centers that support AI models. For example, a single question asked to a tool like ChatGPT can use about ten times more electricity than a regular Google search. This high energy use leads to more carbon emissions—Microsoft even reported a nearly 30% increase in its carbon footprint due to growing data centers.
The data centers that power generative AI require vast amounts of water, to keep computer servers cool. Each interaction with an AI model contributes to water consumption, and as AI technology continues to expand, its overall water demand is expected to grow significantly. In the coming years, AI's water usage could reach levels comparable to those of entire countries, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to manage its environmental impact.
If you are concerned about the environmental impact of generative AI, one small thing you can do is remove AI Overviews from Google search results. All you have to do is use the NOT (-) operator that modifies search to exclude certain parameters. For example, use the operator -AI to remove the AI Overview:
who owns facebook -AI
For more on this tip, see the article in PC Magazine Try This Quick and Easy Trick to Get Better Google Results Instantly