Why AI Avoidance Won’t Save the Planet: 3 Things to Consider
When headlines warn about AI’s massive energy use, water consumption, and e-waste, it’s tempting to think the greenest choice is simple: avoid AI altogether. And I often see comments about how unfriendly AI is to the environment. But in my report, Thirsty Intelligence: What AI Costs and What It Could Save, I show how complete abstinence from AI doesn’t automatically make you more sustainable—it can actually increase your footprint in surprising ways. Here are three things to think about.
1. The Myth of "Green Abstinence"
Some eco-minded people argue that the best way to fight climate change is to refuse to use AI. Less ChatGPT, fewer image generators, no smart assistants—just unplug. At first glance, that sounds logical: no queries, no server power, no cooling water. But here’s the problem: AI is already deeply embedded in daily systems you use without even realizing it. From email spam filters to public transportation routing to medical imaging, it’s deeply embedded in all of these technologies. So wholesale AI avoidance means more than just chatbots; it means stepping back from modern infrastructure that supports sustainability.
2. When “Less AI” Means More Carbon
Consider this: if you skip AI-powered video calls and insist on traveling for meetings, the plane or car trip burns exponentially more fossil fuels than the server farm that powers your Zoom session.
Do you use GPS navigation? If you want to avoid AI, you might need to drive to the library to find a printed map or a bus schedule, because AI is integrated into GPS.
These options might feel “low-tech,” but the emissions from that extra drive outweigh the energy used to run a simple digital query. In other words, saying no to AI can shift the burden elsewhere—onto older, dirtier technologies.
3. Smarter Use, Not No Use
You might have heard of the term “chaotic neutral.” In AI’s case, it means that the technology will reflect the intent of the human that created it—both positive and negative (see what happened with Grok in July 2025). Yes, training large models uses water and electricity. But AI also helps optimize data center cooling, design greener batteries, reduce water waste in farming, and predict renewable energy output—and that’s just the start. The same technology that consumes resources can also save them. The key isn’t abstinence; it’s smarter use.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed to the point of inaction, but here are some tips using AI that can help increase sustainability:
- Choose efficiency: Opt for AI tools designed with smaller, optimized models that run locally or on renewable-powered servers.
- Be mindful: Just as we turn off lights when not in use, we should avoid running AI models endlessly for trivial tasks.
- Advocate for transparency: Push companies to disclose water and energy usage so consumers can make informed choices.
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The Middle Path
Skipping AI entirely won’t save the planet—but using AI thoughtfully and responsibly can help. Like cars with emissions standards or TVs with content guidelines, AI can be adapted, regulated, and used in ways that align with environmental goals. Total abstinence isn’t realistic in the 21st century, and it may actually set back climate solutions that depend on AI’s ability to perform advanced analytics.
Instead of demonizing or abandoning AI, let’s demand smarter design, advocate for transparency, and practice mindful usage. The future of AI and the planet depends less on “yes” or “no” than on how we choose to use it.
"This is Also AI"
In September I started a new social media series on Sundays called “This is Also AI” to help you understand all the positive ways AI benefits everyone. You can find it on my Facebook and Instagram channels. In October we’ll feature organizations using AI to save forests, fight fire damage, keep trash out of landfills, to repurpose existing drugs, and speed clinical trials. Be sure follow me where you get your social media, and see the good AI can bring to our lives.
I hope I’ve given you some food for thought. If you want to know more about AI’s cost to the environment and how we can best help to mitigate it, download the full report, “Thirsty Intelligence: What AI Costs—And What It Could Save.”