Digital Overconsumption and Waste: A Closer Look at the Impacts of Generative AI

TL;DR

This paper examines how generative AI contributes to digital waste and overconsumption, highlighting environmental impacts and societal concerns, and discusses potential solutions to mitigate these issues.

Contribution

It provides an expanded analysis of digital overconsumption caused by generative AI and explores societal impacts and possible mitigation strategies.

Findings

Generative AI increases digital energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

User sentiment reflects concern over AI's environmental impact.

Potential pathways for reducing digital waste are discussed.

Abstract

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems currently contribute negatively to the production of digital waste, via the associated energy consumption and the related CO2 emissions. At this moment, a discussion is urgently needed on the replication of harmful consumer behavior, such as overconsumption, in the digital space. We outline our previous work on the climate implications of commercially available generative AI systems and the sentiment of generative AI users when confronted with AI-related climate research. We expand on this work via a discussion of digital overconsumption and waste, other related societal impacts, and a possible solution pathway