Electric Dreams, Carbon Nightmares: The Hidden Environmental Cost of Generative AI

AI chatbots are freaky. To someone like me with little knowledge about technology, programming or any other computer science jargon, I find them incomprehensible. 

A strange thing inside my computer, which knows how to simplify my readings, how to solve maths equations, how to quell the torrent of spiteful emails I send to my landlord about the leaky fridge. As it obeys my commands to ‘make this email sound more polite’, I often find myself soothed by its mechanical rearranging of my fiery words into ones which are clinical and assertive. It is probably due to this thing that I have not yet been evicted. Or that I am able to think of my article titles. 

Despite all of its pros, chatbots are very scary. Their not-quite-human responses, as well as the unsettling videos and images they produce, provoke a deep fear of the uncanny for many. It is thought that their reinforcement of instant gratification is making people lazier. 

As well as this,  they are also trained on stolen information from real people, who receive no compensation for their work. Indeed, in 2023 the New York Times sued Microsoft and OpenAI, claiming that their chatbots were trained using articles from journalists at the company without consent, thus violating their copyrights. 

As unethical as this all is, the biggest threat we as a species are facing from generative AI is their huge environmental impact. To explain it in the simplest of terms (for people like me with little knowledge of computers) the most complex Ais require the most power. The more power needed, the more carbon emissions are created in the process. 

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence which can answer questions, create images and videos, solve problems and provide ideas. In other words, the chatbots we are so familiar with today. These are the said Ais which require the most power, due to their complex and advanced nature. 

These chatbots have not only increased in accessibility, but they are also thrust onto consumers in an attempt for constant innovation. In this case, to ensure search engines keep up to date with the newest technologies and quickest ways to retrieve information. 

This becomes an annoyance for two reasons. The first is that often searchers come across inaccurate and often laughable information, as is seen in the case of the viral ‘first person to backflip’ search. When google users went to search the much-asked question, AI overview confidently stated that it was curated by the medieval trickster ‘John Backflip’. 

As entertaining as it is to play around with AI and its inaccuracies, every futile search takes up 4 to 5 times the amount of energy as typing your query into a regular search engine. With every search engine now being equipped with an AI chatbot, this poses a huge environmental challenge. 

The size of generative AI is measured by parameters, with the larger models being the most advanced, thus taking up the most energy. According to the Scientific American, GPT-3 has a whopping 175 billion parameters. They state that the model went through ‘1287 megawatt hours of electricity and generated 552 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent’. To put this in perspective, this is comparable to the emissions of 123 standard petrol vehicles for a whole year of driving. And with the site reporting approximately 3.1 billion websites in September of 2024, its mind-boggling popularity suggests it will only continue its path of destruction. 

Likewise in 2019 it was found that the generative AI model BERT (which was 110 million parameters) depleted the energy of a ‘round trip transcontinental flight for one person’. The lack of tactility in chatbots often means people are unaware that they have a real physical impact. By comparing them to practices that we have known for years cause huge environmental damage demonstrates just how sinister they are. 

So how exactly do we avoid this? Chatbots are now seemingly ubiquitous and feel impossible to avoid. But, a recent study by google suggested that size matters less than some think when it comes to sustainable AI. 

The research suggested that for the same or similar size, using a ‘more efficient model architecture, processor and greener data centre can reduce the carbon.’ It is clear, then, that change needs to come from those at the top. Companies must invest in more sustainable processes to create generative AI. Public pressure- such as petitions, emails and spreading awareness- can help to achieve this, as well as boycotting sites such as Chat-GPT.

There are also eco-conscious alternatives out there for use, such as the non-profit company ‘Ecosia’, which is equipped with a ‘green filtered’ AI. Promoted by green energy such as solar power, the chatbot also offers sustainable advice and suggestions which are mindful of the planet. Thus, by promoting practices which are environmentally conscious, users are encouraged to incorporate these into their daily lives. As a bonus, Ecosia’s profits are distributed worldwide to support tree-planting initiatives. It is certainly worth switching your browser knowing that each search is not actively aiding the destruction of the planet. 

It is easy to feel despondent about the ways in which small parts of our life have a big environmental impact. It can feel particularly overwhelming when software which is so damaging has seen an exponential rise in popularity, which is only getting larger. 

However, education is crucial. Knowing what happens as a consequence of your small search allows you to make the first small changes and move forwards making environmentally conscious decisions. So, next time you need a twelve-fingered picture of Jesus in a theme park to send to your uncle on Facebook, do your research before turning to Chat-GPT. 

Words by Daisy Morrow

A Universe Unbound: Commemorating 100 Years Since Edwin Hubble Revealed the Andromeda Galaxy

On November 23, 1924, a pivotal moment in the history of astronomy unfolded. Edwin Hubble, an astronomer at the Mount Wilson Observatory, announced, via the New York Times, evidence that the Andromeda “nebula” was not a part of the Milky Way but a galaxy in its own right. This revelation not only expanded the known scale of the universe but also laid the groundwork for modern cosmology, reshaping humanity’s understanding of the cosmos. A century on, we celebrate his groundbreaking discovery and reflect on its profound legacy.

In the early 20th century, the prevailing view of the universe was vastly limited. Most astronomers believed that the Milky Way was the entirety of space, and celestial objects like Andromeda were thought to be “spiral nebulae,” regions of gas and dust within our galaxy. Despite emerging evidence that hinted at a larger universe, the concept of other galaxies remained speculative.

The debate over the nature of these nebulae reached a fever pitch in the early 1920s. Astronomers like Heber Curtis argued that spiral nebulae were separate galaxies, or “island universes,” while others, including Harlow Shapley, maintained that they were part of the Milky Way. The astronomical community lacked the tools and methods to definitively resolve the issue—until Hubble’s work changed everything.

Edwin Hubble’s journey to uncover the true nature of Andromeda began with the Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory in California. At the time, it was the most powerful telescope in the world, capable of unprecedented observational precision.

Hubble applied a key discovery made by astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. Leavitt had identified a relationship between the brightness and periodicity of Cepheid variable stars, which allowed astronomers to measure their distances. By observing Cepheid variables within Andromeda, He determined that the “nebula” was far too distant to be part of the Milky Way—approximately 2.5 million light-years away.

This finding was revolutionary. It confirmed that Andromeda was a galaxy in its own right, similar in scale to the Milky Way. Hubble’s announcement effectively ended the “Great Debate” and unveiled a universe teeming with galaxies.

Hubble’s discovery had immediate and far-reaching implications. For the first time, humanity grasped the staggering scale of the universe, recognising that the Milky Way was just one galaxy among countless others. This realisation shifted the focus of astronomy toward understanding the structure, distribution, and behaviour of galaxies.

The discovery also set the stage for subsequent breakthroughs in cosmology. In 1929, he would go on to show that galaxies are receding from one another, providing the first observational evidence of the universe’s expansion and laying the foundation for the Big Bang theory.

Edwin Hubble’s work has had a lasting influence on generations of astronomers. His insights catalysed research into galaxy formation, the large-scale structure of the cosmos, and the mysterious forces driving the universe’s expansion, such as dark energy.

The Hubble Space Telescope, named in his honour, continues to push the boundaries of our understanding. Launched in 1990, this iconic observatory has captured images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and cosmic phenomena, offering glimpses into the early universe and refining our models of cosmic evolution. The telescope has helped determine the age of the universe: now known to be 13.8 billion years. In 2004, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field was released, allowing astronomers to look even further back in the time of the cosmos (Royal Museums Greenwich).

As we commemorate the centennial of Hubble’s revelation, we are reminded of the enduring power of curiosity and discovery. The astronomer’s breakthrough opened the door to an era of cosmic exploration, paving the way for advanced instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in December 2021, which now peers deeper into the universe than ever before. Indeed, the telescope has found galaxies that are brighter than expected, which may also be more efficient at creating stars. It also discovered the earliest and most distant galaxy yet, JADES-GS-z14-0 (ESA/WEBB).

The Andromeda Galaxy, once a misunderstood “nebula”, now serves as a vivid symbol of our quest to understand the cosmos. Hubble’s work reminds us that the universe is vast, dynamic, and full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered—a humbling and inspiring legacy that continues to guide humanity’s exploration of the stars.

In commemorating this milestone, we honour not only Hubble but also the countless astronomers, past and present, who have expanded our view of the universe and illuminated our place within it. Here’s to another century of discovery.