"Should investments in GenAI pay off, societies could save money through greater equity and efficiency and increased rates of automation and innovation. These savings could potentially be invested in socially responsible or environmentally friendly initiatives. However, if they do not pay off, we will have collectively made a small group of high-tech developers and multinationals richer and more powerful, effectively shooting ourselves in the foot. In that scenario, the wider social benefits would remain unrealized, leading us to question the true value of GenAI advancements and ask ourselves: Were these innovations truly beneficial for all? As some experts have warned, “new technologies have always worsened disparities,” and GenAI might be no exception.

Even if we give GenAI the benefit of the doubt, navigating this period remains extremely challenging. It’s a time when the focus and attention given to GenAI may overshadow other pressing social needs. For this reason, we need to pay more attention to social and environmental impacts and push those who are considering GenAI development and deployment to also include these impacts in their assessments."

#AI #GenerativeAI #Environment #Energy #DataCenters #Inequality

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/commentary-steep-ai-social-environmental-080000431.html?guccounter=1