Generative AI is impressive, but the hidden environmental costs and impact of these models are often overlooked. Companies can take eight steps to make these systems greener: Use existing large generative models, don’t generate your own; fine-tune train existing models; use energy-conserving computational methods; use a large model only when it offers significant value; be discerning about when you use generative AI; evaluate the energy sources of your cloud provider or data center; re-use models and resources; include AI activity in your carbon monitoring.
I really despise these sorts of things as while sure, we should be looking for ways to be more efficient with our energy use, but any focus on this issue is time spent not focusing on the really BIG polluters that matter. We could pour all our time into making generative AI more efficient, but in the meanwhile all other sources continue or as has been the case, grow.
Humanity is capable of focusing on both things.
Of course, but we only have so much time and attention and we are getting down to the wire on needing to react.