Amy L. Stein (University of Florida Levin College of Law) has posted Generative AI And Sustainability on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
This chapter underscores the environmental considerations of Generative AI, including impacts on water, energy, carbon, waste, and land use. Those oftenoverlooked parameters have recently gained considerable attention in the computer science community. The chapter encourages GenAI developers to integrate sustainability into their business growth strategies by enhancing awareness, reducing impacts, and justifying the social benefits. It provides five suggestions for GenAI developers to achieve more sustainable GenAI practices: (1) use their purchasing power to drive demand for investments in more carbon-free energy and recycled water; (2) adopt water, energy efficiency, and waste reduction practices to decrease the absolute amounts consumed; (3) take advantage of excess carbon-free energy to smooth demand curves for grid operators; (4) support the creation of more transmission infrastructure to alleviate congestion caused by their increased demand; and (5) engage with utilities and regulatory bodies to avoid inequitable impacts, including those between industrial and residential customers in their service areas.
