The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is getting increasingly popular, but is that necessarily a good thing? How can the use of AI impact the environment?
According to Milton High School Science Teacher Mr. Tanner Walter, AI “can be a helpful tool in schools” but added that he believes we are still able to live without it. “Regardless of if people try to use AI, search engines are now using AI by default,” he added.
Mr. Walter said he’d previously learned how much water is used per question prompt, saying “one prompt uses one bottle of water.” The water is used to cool down the AI servers, which generate immense amounts of heat, but he added that he last looked at this information regarding water usage with AI roughly a year ago. After checking, he found that currently 100 prompts use one bottle of water.
“These centers are using renewable energy and nuclear power plants to run the centers, specifically the one in Berwick,” Mr. Walter said. “They’re looking to start Three-mile Island back up for Microsoft.”
According to Mr. Walter, when “new data centers are being opened that usually means they will be using AI.” Data centers both use AI to improve operations, but also produce AI, according to the International Energy Agency.
Computer Instructor Mr. Seth Reitz said he feels that AI has benefits. “AI is helpful, fun and will replace many people’s jobs including teachers,” said Mr. Reitz.
He added that he has not been implementing AI in his classes because he “wants students to attempt to understand the material before they use AI.”
“I use it to get some things done when I am short on time,” he said.
According to Mr. Reitz, he said he feels that AI can be beneficial if people use it properly for example, “improving writing or to show steps to something.”
“From what I’ve seen, most just use it to complete the work,” Mr. Reitz said. “Students will develop fewer thinking skills and become lazy about things.”
