Why the Module?
It is important to highlight the environmental and social costs that come with AI, as it underlines the fact that these technologies are not actually free.
What will it cover?
- Environmental costs of AI
- The amount of labor and data user provide for free to power AI
- What is a ‘useful’ application of AI?
Nothing is free, and Artificial Intelligence comes with a lot of costs that you might not be aware of! To begin with, all digital technology comes with huge environmental costs. Think about all of the chips, metals, screens, apps, and smartphones that need to be produced, not to mention all of the electricity they consume while running.
AI models are also trained on vast amounts of data, and that data did not come from nowhere! Often data is used from services provided by Google, Apple, Amazon, or Microsoft, but sometimes you are involved more directly. If you have for instance ever filled in one of these quizzes:
Study Room
This study room engages with resources that are used in the training and creation of AI systems. The primary focus is on labor exploitation and environmental costs associated with AI. It invites the reader to contemplate the direct costs that AI use has. Implicitly the question is what is and is not a useful application of AI.
AI requires huge amounts of electricity and water in order to function, read this article to learn more about the environmental costs of AI.
If you would like to know more, this blog post from the International Monetary Fund discusses the potential implications of AI on global economic inequality. It explores how AI technologies could exacerbate disparities between wealthy and impoverished nations if not properly managed, offering insights into the socioeconomic challenges posed by AI adoption.
Would you like to know more about carbon emissions that go into training AI? Have a look at the following link to know more.
AI involves a lot of labor cost, time, and often challenging conditions for working. This video is an exploration into how people play a big role in making AI work.
In this article, you can delve more deeply into the kinds of exploitation that go into developing AI for workers.
Activity Room
An AI Adventure – Discovering How You Shape AI!
Objective: Embark on a digital adventure to uncover websites and apps where your input fuels AI.
Activity Steps:
Digital Discovery
Select the websites and apps you regularly visit or engage with. These could include social media platforms, e-commerce sites, content-sharing platforms, and more.
Navigate through the chosen websites and apps while paying attention to the activities you perform. This could include:
- Uploading photos or videos
- Writing comments or reviews
- Liking or sharing posts
- Making purchases or adding items to your cart
- Customizing preferences or settings
Recognize areas where user-generated content plays a significant role. Many platforms use your input, such as your reviews, likes, and shared content, to enhance user experience and train AI algorithms.
Look for features that seem personalized or tailored to your preferences. This could include personalized recommendations, content suggestions, or targeted advertisements—all powered by AI algorithms analyzing your digital behavior.
Documentation
Record the names of the websites and apps you discover on your AI adventure. Make notes about how you contribute – whether it’s sharing photos, writing reviews, or liking posts!
Super Sleuth Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on how your online activities influence AI technology.
Ethical Explorer Guide
Become an ethical explorer by exploring privacy settings and understanding how your data is used. Learn how to stay safe and protect your privacy while having fun online!
Have you heard about Data Centres? Check out this short video about the challenges of people around data centres in Uruguay ?
Delve into this interview on what the implications would be for access to water with Google as your neighbour.
In a group of 2-3 persons, develop a poster to highlight some of the key challenges of Data Centres. If you had to run a campaign, what would your slogan be?
Reflection Room
Environmental costs of AI
The amount of labor and data user provide for free to power AI
What is a ‘useful’ application of AI?
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