As we come up on Earth Day in April, it’s important to reflect on human’s relationship with Earth as a whole. Earth Day is a day to celebrate our progress while also acknowledging and confronting the harmful effects that humans have had on the Earth. In more recent years, one factor which has newly been recognized as having a harmful impact on the planet is artificial intelligence. Despite the fact that artificial intelligence is often praised by a vast majority of people for its utility in research, problem solving, and decision making, what is understated is its incredible quantity of environmental stain as a result of its large amount of energy consumption. Behind every simple question that is asked of an AI chatbot, such as ChatGPT, is a vast network of physical infrastructure and water consumption in order to support the amount of intelligence gathering that is necessary to adequately respond in a timely manner. The sheer quantity of energy which is expended when talking to a chatbot like ChatGPT is often shocking for those who are uninformed on the topic. Specifically, when discussing this topic with Collin Sharp (11), he was surprised to hear about the harmful effects that ChatGPT has had on the planet.
“I’m so shocked that ChatGPT has advanced and taken over so fast, I feel like just yesterday ChatGPT didn’t exist and now it’s taken over. It was crazy to learn how much water is used for AI,” Sharp said.
This is not an uncommon reaction. It is estimated that chatbots such as ChatGPT use up to 35 million gallons of water every day. This growing demand for Earth’s resources reminds us, especially with Earth Day coming up, that we should be mindful of how our actions impact the Earth as a whole. Moreover, while artificial intelligence is able to offer a seemingly limitless amount of information, it is also important to think more critically about more ethical alternatives to gathering media. As these significant conversations ensue over the environment, we should also understand that events like Earth Day are not a time to merely reflect and be hypercritical of oneself, but instead should be a time to celebrate the beauty of the Earth in its entirety. Students like Elijah Smith know just how to do this.
“On Earth Day I like to go for a hike in the woods and really just embrace nature. I think Earth Day also really just gives me a second to reflect and think about my own individual impact on the Earth even though it might seem insignificant,” said Smith
There are so many ways to celebrate, from planting trees, to cleaning a local park, or maybe just simply enjoying the great outdoors. As technological innovation continues to grow, sometimes it is important to slow down and recognize the beauty in the nature that surrounds us every day. While Earth Day is an important day for awareness, every day should be a day that we strive to protect the Earth and conserve natural resources.
