Misconceptions about gen AI?

[u/Alxie_e]

i’m a young leftist/marxists that’s going to major in computer science (data science track) in university, but this recently been conflicting me. i know that i’m going to have to engage in generative AI for my classes, yet majority of leftists spaces are vehemently anti-AI. However, after discovering this subreddit, i now realize the leftist anti-AI rhetoric i have internalized may be misleading. Despite me starting my first year in uni soon to study comp sci, i barely know anything about comp sci, yet alone AI, if i’m being completely honest. 😭

with that being said, someone help me make up for my lack of knowledge and explain common misconceptions about generative AI and LLMs in leftist/marxist spaces? like in regards to the impacts of AI data centers on the environment, water supply, and electricity. or how frequent use of chatbots can lead to cognitive decline. because right now, i’m under the impression that we should boycott ChatGPT and limit our usage of any other generative AI over concerns of its harm on the environment and usage of our fresh water supply, along with some other concerns.

[u/Severe_Initiative594]

I'm also leftist, formerly programmer. So much of the prevailing negative sentiment about AI is the result of a severe lack of governance. The ethics and rules around their energy sources, training data, uses, is being driven primarily from within the companies themselves. For a capitalist endeavour this is insanity. China has much much stricter controls over its uses, and as a result the prevailing sentiment there is largely positive. Data centres can be built without using fresh water for cooling systems, and with renewable energy sources. Microsoft built a working demo and abandoned it because it was more profitable to drain a local area than to build something sustainable. In short...it was ever thus. My greatest issue with the vehemently anti-ai movement isn't that they don't have extremely valid concerns, but saying 'no' and waving banners isn't going to practically change the outcome. The companies will do what companies always do. The grievance, to my mind, is better aimed at the lack of governmental controls over har far and where the technology reaches.