AI's Double-Edged Sword: Expert Warns of Energy Intensive LLMs
A new episode of Mike & Amit Talk Tech podcast is now available on Apple and Spotify. This time, hosts Amit M. Joshi and Michael R. Wade invite Julia Binder, a renowned sustainability expert, to discuss the environmental impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Julia Binder, a Professor of Sustainable Innovation and Business Transformation, is recognized on the 2022 Thinkers50 Radar list for her work at the intersection of sustainability and innovation. She leads a research group focusing on participatory, transdisciplinary methods in agroforestry, leveraging Citizen Science to balance participation, scalability, and data quality in sustainable environmental monitoring and planning. In the podcast, Binder discusses the double-edged sword of AI. While its growth requires large amounts of energy, water, and rare earth metals, it also holds the potential to accelerate sustainable transformation. AI can provide innovative approaches to energy production and consumption, potentially saving the planet in the long run. However, she warns that the Large Language Models (LLMs) of the future may require the use of old power plants powered by fossil fuels, highlighting the need for responsible AI development. The podcast, part of the Mike & Amit Talk Tech series, explores the complex relationship between AI and the environment. With experts like Julia Binder, the series aims to provide insights into technology's impact on society and the planet. Listeners can find the episode on Apple and Spotify platforms.
