DD Espinosa

I was disappointed to read in Friday’s Beacon (August 29) about the so-called wonders of ChatGPT’s abilities.

It seems that no-one is aware of the extreme environmental impact of using this type of “artificial intelligence” in our day to day lives.

Large-scale AI deployments are housed in huge data centres. These take a heavy toll on the planet. The electronics they contain rely on a staggering amount of grist: building a 2-kilogram computer requires 800kg of raw materials, and the microchips that power large language model (LLM) apps like ChatGPT require rare earth elements, which are mined in environmentally destructive ways.

Of course, this is true for all internet search queries and data storage, but not to the same extent. A request made through ChatGPT specifically requires 10 times the electricity of a normal query made through Google.

But it’s not just requests that do the damage; the training process for a single AI model can consume thousands of megawatts and emit hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide.

I understand that for many business and personal needs, it may seem like ChatGPT is some sort of magical genie to grant your digital wishes. But at what price? Artificial Intelligence is not “making the future” but only destroying our chances at a healthy and green planet.