AI, Ethics and Sustainability

Whilst we understand and support the need for AI, the environmental impact it has must be considered. The rapid expansion of AI is reflected in the rising demands on data centres impacting on construction and land use. The computational power required to train generative AI models that often have billions of parameters can demand a staggering amount of electricity, which leads to increased carbon dioxide emissions and pressures on the electric grid.

So, what can you do as a student?

• Use AI purposefully: Ask yourself whether each prompt adds value to your learning. Avoid unnecessary or repetitive queries.
• Be mindful of scale: A single prompt may seem small, but collectively, our usage has real-world environmental effects.
• Support ethical AI: Where possible, choose platforms that are transparent about their labour practices and environmental commitments.
• Acknowledge the human effort: Understand that behind every AI response is a network of people, often invisible, whose work deserves fair treatment.
• Reflect on your digital habits: Align your use of AI with UON values and  broader goals around sustainability and social impact