It’s hard to know what to tell our students about the ecological impact of generative AI when the Internet seems evenly divided between “Stop worrying” and “It’s the apocalypse.” This workshop offers a nonpartisan perspective and tools to make more informed judgments. First, we survey the range of AI’s environmental impacts, from AI’s contribution to global energy and water demand to how its disproportionate effect on communities near data centers erodes local resistance and environmental justice. The webinar will then introduce an online calculator that translates these impacts into relatable comparisons like the environmental cost of streaming video or air travel. The session concludes with a collaborative exercise in developing personalized guidelines for responsible AI usage—a process that participants can repeat in their own classrooms.
Please click on the facilitators’ name in the session info to view their bio.
Session Resources:
- Session Slides
- Recording on YouTube (also embedded below)
