I am with you on this ‘I will never’ when it comes to AI. I love the analogy of cars and road use and I plan to be amongst the pedestrians/bike rider and carve out those paths. The more of us there are, the more paths there will be.
And I am so sorry to hear about the wetlands near you. That’s heartbreaking.
I, too, am a Wendell Berry fan and greatly admire his work and perspective. I’m also a professor at a local college where we now have classes to teach computer science majors how to use and program AI. It’s here - and there is no putting it back into Pandora’s box. That being said, the environmental impact bothers me the most. I read that a single question posed to ChatGPT consumes a gallon of water. That’s a lot of gallons every single day in this technology-idolizing world. I have made the choice not to purposefully use AI, but I’m still using it because it’s embedded into all Google searches and most software programs nowadays. Proof that just because we CAN do something doesn’t mean we SHOULD.
Thanks for this thoughtful comment, Korie. I know that for many, using AI is not a choice, but I think finding those places where we do have a choice are important. I hear many use the term "manufactured inevitability" to describe the rise of AI. I think that is certainly true, though I do believe we can make a meaningful resistance against that trend. I'll certainly be doing more thinking on this.
I appreciate that the link you posted to the Wendell Berry essay included that epic letter with the line "Wife-a low-tech energy-saving device." I'm able to appreciate the general view more since you typed your own work! And rather than finding any hypocrisy in your publishing this online, I find it near-miraculous that you wrote this out by hand first--and admirable. And also that you did it all yourself.. which, you know, basic standard: I can't read Berry's essay apart from the feminist (or just human) critique of his argument.
I also am glad to see you applying this to AI. I hate AI. And the energy consumption piece is huge.
I too (though nowhere near as faithfully as you) seek to reduce my footprint. I'm also mindful that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce just had a ridiculous wedding, and I think about how some guy published the flight charts of Taylor's Eras tour, and how much energy she was using with a private jet... and how my/our efforts pale in comparison to that. Any thoughts on that? I don't want to be discouraged, and plan either way to be mindful of energy use.
Thank you, Abram. I do recommend Berry’s essay, “Feminism, the Body, and the Machine.” I think he makes some good responses to his critics there.
On the question of energy consumption, it is a hard thing to do your best to use little and then see others wasting it with abandon. In Naomi Klein’s book, This Changes Everything, she makes an important point that the difference between energy savings now and the kinds of rationing used during WWII, is that now only individuals are asked to sacrifice rather than corporations. A company or wealthy person violating the collective good during WWII could face stiff fines and social shame. That reality has in no way been the case with the climate crisis.
I do, however, think a kind of personal or small community asceticism that tries to use energy less and live out its values is important, not because it will change the world directly, but because our lives can be prayers, and I do believe that God’s action accompanies the efforts of those who work to live toward goodness. I try to save energy, then, not because I think it will make a difference in terms of carbon, but because I think it is a good thing in itself, and I want my life to be one that values resources and what is required of the world to provide them for my use. Of course, I’m far from very good at that, but I do work at getting better, incrementally.
There's something in the water at the moment, because this exact idea has been in my drafts folder for months. I might not finish it now that you've done such a good job. Or I might take a slightly different approach. Thank you for this!
I am with you on this ‘I will never’ when it comes to AI. I love the analogy of cars and road use and I plan to be amongst the pedestrians/bike rider and carve out those paths. The more of us there are, the more paths there will be.
And I am so sorry to hear about the wetlands near you. That’s heartbreaking.
Also, I had no idea Oliver Burkeman has a Substack. Thank you! Loved his 4000 weeks and Meditations for Mortals.
I, too, am a Wendell Berry fan and greatly admire his work and perspective. I’m also a professor at a local college where we now have classes to teach computer science majors how to use and program AI. It’s here - and there is no putting it back into Pandora’s box. That being said, the environmental impact bothers me the most. I read that a single question posed to ChatGPT consumes a gallon of water. That’s a lot of gallons every single day in this technology-idolizing world. I have made the choice not to purposefully use AI, but I’m still using it because it’s embedded into all Google searches and most software programs nowadays. Proof that just because we CAN do something doesn’t mean we SHOULD.
Thanks for this thoughtful comment, Korie. I know that for many, using AI is not a choice, but I think finding those places where we do have a choice are important. I hear many use the term "manufactured inevitability" to describe the rise of AI. I think that is certainly true, though I do believe we can make a meaningful resistance against that trend. I'll certainly be doing more thinking on this.
I appreciate that the link you posted to the Wendell Berry essay included that epic letter with the line "Wife-a low-tech energy-saving device." I'm able to appreciate the general view more since you typed your own work! And rather than finding any hypocrisy in your publishing this online, I find it near-miraculous that you wrote this out by hand first--and admirable. And also that you did it all yourself.. which, you know, basic standard: I can't read Berry's essay apart from the feminist (or just human) critique of his argument.
I also am glad to see you applying this to AI. I hate AI. And the energy consumption piece is huge.
I too (though nowhere near as faithfully as you) seek to reduce my footprint. I'm also mindful that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce just had a ridiculous wedding, and I think about how some guy published the flight charts of Taylor's Eras tour, and how much energy she was using with a private jet... and how my/our efforts pale in comparison to that. Any thoughts on that? I don't want to be discouraged, and plan either way to be mindful of energy use.
Thank you, Abram. I do recommend Berry’s essay, “Feminism, the Body, and the Machine.” I think he makes some good responses to his critics there.
On the question of energy consumption, it is a hard thing to do your best to use little and then see others wasting it with abandon. In Naomi Klein’s book, This Changes Everything, she makes an important point that the difference between energy savings now and the kinds of rationing used during WWII, is that now only individuals are asked to sacrifice rather than corporations. A company or wealthy person violating the collective good during WWII could face stiff fines and social shame. That reality has in no way been the case with the climate crisis.
I do, however, think a kind of personal or small community asceticism that tries to use energy less and live out its values is important, not because it will change the world directly, but because our lives can be prayers, and I do believe that God’s action accompanies the efforts of those who work to live toward goodness. I try to save energy, then, not because I think it will make a difference in terms of carbon, but because I think it is a good thing in itself, and I want my life to be one that values resources and what is required of the world to provide them for my use. Of course, I’m far from very good at that, but I do work at getting better, incrementally.
I so agree with the idea that our small actions matter. I think if the mustard seed and carry on.
Thank you for this response. So good. I love the idea of our lives as prayers, and God multiplying our efforts.
There's something in the water at the moment, because this exact idea has been in my drafts folder for months. I might not finish it now that you've done such a good job. Or I might take a slightly different approach. Thank you for this!
Thanks, Abi! I hope you will continue with your essay. I would love to read another take on Berry and AI. Let me know when you publish it!