It’s an unfortunate truth that AI is a tool that is increasingly being used in nearly every student’s work. If you walk down the halls, numerous conversations constantly revolve around using AI for even the simplest tasks; whether that be writing, solving, or even drawing, AI is the answer.

It doesn’t help, of course, that many teachers share a similar sentiment. One of the greatest ironies in our own school, for example, are the hundreds of posters decorating each classroom with the slogan, “Bell to Bell, no Cell.” Obviously, these posters are made with the same AI they tell us to avoid.

Hypocritical much? 

It’s true, very few can avoid the lure of a job well done, without actually putting in the effort. Unfortunately, the cost of usage is actually higher than what it may seem. 

AI data centers use immense amounts of power, directly contributing to the pollution surrounding the cities in which they are built upon. In Virginia, for example, AI data centers use up to 25% of the state’s energy. 

Due to the extreme calculations occurring in these facilities, the computers doing this work get incredibly hot. So hot, in fact, that these data centers must pull tons of water from the communities where they are located. 

Currently, AI data centers around the world pull 56 million gallons of water a year…by 2027, this amount is projected to increase to up to 1.1 billion gallons. 

Worse yet, approximately 80% of water is dumped onto local wastewater facilities, which, at such large volumes, often become overwhelmed almost immediately. 

AI, in many ways, is still emerging. Never before have we had the access and ability to ask the corners of the internet any questions we want.  However, as it stands, these questions come at an immense cost – the worsening of an already devastated planet. 

Support real artists, write your own work, and solve your own problems. 

Stop the usage of AI.