Let's Talk About Artificial Intelligence
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Civics, Engineering, Computer Science
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Climate Justice Alliance
What it is
- This article from the Climate Justice Alliance describes artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, explains the increasing growth of data centers required to operate them, and makes connections to vulnerable communities, economic injustices, and ecological damage.
- Students will learn about the increasing energy, land, and water demands of AI data centers, the potential harm of AI proliferation to vulnerable communities, the alternatives to AI chats that use far less energy, and suggestions for taking action to address the many issues.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This article has a conversational tone, which will help to engage students.
- The article does a great job of explaining the complexities of AI and data centers in a way that is easy to understand.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand topics related to energy, such as fossil fuels, the energy grid, and clean energy, as well as their impact on the climate.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This article can spark a discussion about the responsible use of AI. Teachers can use this article to discuss the environmental toll of AI, the chances for bias and misinformation, and the implications of plagiarism and copyright infringement.
- This article can also be part of a unit on media literacy, helping students to gather and consume information with a critical eye. Teachers can combine the article with other media literacy lessons and activities, like this one.
- Highlighting the comparison between the energy used in ChatGPT queries and Google searches, teachers can discuss scenarios when AI may be used or when a Google search or brain power is more appropriate. Teachers and students can work together to create anchor charts illustrating these scenarios.
- Civics classes can discuss the government’s role in protecting the rights of the people, highlighting the sections about perpetuating systems of harm and economic justice.
From the scientist review
The resource investigates the influence of AI technology on the energy sector, specifically the energy required to operate data centers, as AI technology continues to develop. Given that the majority of energy sources would be powered by nuclear and fossil fuels, the report also projects future energy requirements and the need to scale up the production of energy from renewable sources. This resource is suggested for use in the classroom.
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