18 Environmental impact and GenAI

There is no environmentally friendly way to use GenAI other than to not use it.

Like other technology products, GenAI has the potential to affect the environment in a negative way.  Most GenAI products are hosted in the cloud, which means that they run in data centers instead of on your phone or computer. This is because GenAI takes a large amount of computing power — requiring more computing power than a phone or laptop can provide. Like streaming video platforms or other cloud-based services, GenAI requires data centers that are powered by large amounts of electricity and cooled by water. Data centers also produce greenhouse gas emissions and create noise pollution.

You can learn more about GenAI and its environmental impact from these resources:

• Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact
• Energy, water use and pollution of AI and data centers rival most countries
• Data Centers, Urban Heat, and AI Growth

How can you use GenAI while being conscious of the environmental impact?

• Prompt GenAI in a mindful way; Each iteration of a prompt requires energy. Before you prompt a GenAI, write down your ideas and create your prompt so you can get your output in as few prompts as possible.
  • Use simpler GenAI models (e.g. choosing Fast instead of Thinking when using Google Gemini)
  • Avoid using GenAI as a search tool.
  • Prioritize low-power formats – only use the high quality audio and video when necessary. Text and basic image output can use less energy.
• Be a mindful consumer of GenAI. Limit your consumption of AI-generated content, especially video. Reducing the demand for those videos can indirectly lower the total volume of emissions created by creators.