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UN Environment Programme

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AI, a newly developed tool, is supported by many in society, however, it could be negatively affecting the environment, providing society with long term consequences .

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“..When it comes to the environment, there is a negative side to the explosion of AI..”

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Many of public are excited about the potential of AI and its few beneficial aspects.

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AI, due to it being newly developed, has various unknown aspects, leading many to not know whether if it is beneficial or harmful to our enviornment.

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“AI is a wildcard.”

“Higher-order effects” (refrerring to what experts describe AI’s impact)

“..Mimic human thinking.”

“..examined AI’s promise and perils.”

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“But when it comes to the environment, there is a negative side to the explosion of AI and its associated infrastructure, according to a growing body of research. The proliferating data centres that house AI servers produce electronic waste. They are large consumers of water, which is becoming scarce in many places. They rely on critical minerals and rare elements, which are often mined unsustainably. And they use massive amounts of electricity, spurring the

emission of planet-warming greenhouse gases.”

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“The big benefit of AI is that it can detect patterns in data, such as anomalies and similarities, and use historic knowledge to accurately predict future outcomes. That could make AI invaluable for monitoring the environment, and helping governments, businesses and individuals make more

planet-friendly choices. It can also enhance efficiencies. UNEP, for example, uses AI to detect when oil and gas installations vent methane, a greenhouse gas that drives climate change.”

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“But it’s impossible to predict how AI-based applications themselves will affect the planet. Some experts worry they may have unintended consequences. For example, the development of AI-powered self-driving cars could cause more people to drive instead of cycling or taking public transit, pushing up greenhouse gas emissions. Then there are what experts call higher-order effects. AI, for example, could be used to generate misinformation about climate change, downplaying the threat in the eyes of the public.”

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“Most large-scale Al deployments are housed in data centres, including those operated by cloud service providers. These data centers can take a heavy toll on the planet. The electronics they house rely on a staggering amount of grist: making a 2 kg computer requires 800 kg of raw materials. As well, the microchips that power Al need rare earth elements, which are often mined in environmentally destructive ways, noted Navigating New Horizons. The second problem is that data centers produce electronic waste, which often contains hazardous substances, like mercury and lead. Third, data centres use water during construction and, once operational, to cool electrical components. Globally, Al-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million, according to one estimate. That is a problem when a quarter of humanity already lacks access to clean water and sanitation. Finally, to power their complex electronics, data centers that host Al technology need a lot of energy, which in most places still comes from the burning of fossil fuels, producing planet-warming greenhouse gases. A request made through ChatGPT, an Al-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google Search…”

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If AI use becomes less popular and certain changes take place, the environment can gain positive results and the ‘environmental fallout’ will be less likely.

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“Firstly, countries can establish standardized procedures for measuring the environmental impact of AI; right now, there’s a dearth of reliable information on the subject. Secondly, with support from UNEP, governments can develop regulations that require companies to disclose the direct environmental

consequences of AI-based products and services. Thirdly, tech companies can make AI algorithms more efficent, reducing their demand for energy, while recycling water and reusing components where feasible. Fourthly, countries can encourage companies to green their centers, including by using renewable energy and offsetting their carbon emissions. Finally, countries can weave their AI-related policies into their broader environmental regulations.”

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1. “Advances like those are fostering hope that AI could help the world tackle at least some aspects of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.”

This quote implies that there is a specific hope that states if AI is still being utilized, that it would at least be used to help rid of negative effects on the environment

2. ”A request made through ChatGPT, an AI-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google Search, reported the International Energy Agency.”

This quote implies that a typically standard and thought-to-be harmless prompt, truly has a larger affect on our environment that most realize

3. “We have a decent handle on what the environmental impacts of data centres could be. But it’s

impossible to predict how AI-based applications themselves will affect the planet.”

Lastly, this quote implies how AI can be a useful tool, however, it can easily backfire and harm the planet just as much as it can help it. If energy use isn’t monitored it can easily cause damage to the planet.

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1. In the New York Times article, “A.L.S. Stole His

Voice. A.I. Retrieved It”, Artificial Intelligence is described to be a positive tool, retrieving the ‘voice’ of a man who had it taken away from him and his family. In this text, it briefly describes AI to be a positive tool, stating, “That could make AI invaluable for monitoring the environment, and helping governments, businesses and individuals make more planet-friendly choices. It can also enhance efficiencies.” Overall, both texts describe AI to be positively effective on society from ways like helping people build back relationships with friends and family, to assisting major businesses.

2. 2. In the text Within both texts of “AI Has An Environment Problem” and “Now the Humanities Can Disrupt AI”, Artificial Intelligence is described to “mimic the human mind”, however, one text describes it to be a more negative outlook on the tool and society’s usage of it in general, whereas the other text describes it to negatively affect the world around society.