The study also highlighted that AI technologies, while less energy consumptive, are not yet capable of producing the same quality of work as humans. It suggested a collaborative approach between AI and humans, where AI aids in the initial production and humans retain control of the final product. The researchers also noted potential legal issues with AI, such as the use of copyrighted material in training sets, and the potential for increased energy use and emissions with a rise in AI-produced material.
Key takeaways:
- A new study has found that AI emits hundreds of times less carbon than humans when performing tasks of writing and illustrating.
- AI systems emit between 130 and 1,500 times less CO2e per page of text generated than human writers and illustration systems between 310 and 2,900 times less CO2e per image than humans.
- The authors argue that despite the lower carbon emissions, AI should not replace human writers and illustrators, but rather be used in collaboration for more efficient work.
- The research was conducted to improve understanding of AI and its environmental impact and to address the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns and taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.