Artificial Intelligence pervades our modern lives. From detecting cancer to driving cars, it seems AI will only become more prevalent and useful. Why then, is AI so controversial? The answer to this is just as complicated as AI itself, and has significance far beyond the world of tech.
What is AI?
The term “AI” is often used to describe only a small subset of AI called “Generative AI.” Generative AI is a form of artificial intelligence that seeks to reproduce human art forms, such as music, videos, photos, paintings or writing. In fact, what artificial intelligence describes is much more general — search engines like Google and Bing, the algorithms used by YouTube and TikTok and even chessbots all fall under the umbrella of “AI.”
How does generative AI work?
According to IBM, “Many generative AI models are ‘black box’ models, meaning it can be challenging or impossible to understand their decision-making processes.” But since researchers design the models, we do know how they work, even if we sometimes do not know why. Generative AI relies on sophisticated algorithms, collectively known as “machine learning,” that imitate the natural learning and decision-making of the human brain. These models work by identifying patterns in massive datasets and then using that information to generate new content (such as images or text) based on the patterns the model has learned.
What is the problem with generative AI?
Critics have raised several concerns regarding generative AI. The first is that art is a uniquely human experience — we are the only ones who can create or understand it. So, if machines can make art, what makes humans unique? In recent years, this has become a key question as AI-generated art floods content creation platforms. In particular, music has flooded streaming platforms in massive numbers, with AI-generated songs even topping Billboard charts. According to a survey and post by the music streaming platform Deezer, the platform receives over 50,000 new AI-generated songs every day. This accounts for over 34% of all of the new songs Deezer receives daily. That same survey also showed that 97% of participants were unable to identify when a song was AI-generated, 52% were uncomfortable that they could not identify AI-generated music and 45% would like AI-generated music completely filtered out of their platform. “[There is] no doubt that there are concerns about how AI-generated music will affect the livelihood of artists [and] music creation, and that AI companies shouldn’t be allowed to train their models on copyrighted material. It’s reassuring to see that we have broad support for our efforts,” Deezer CEO Alex Lanternier said.
Another concern about generative AI is that the data centers required for those systems consume massive amounts of resources, putting the environment at risk and stressing local water systems. A data center is a building complex that houses servers — specialized computers designed to handle many network connections at once — and the systems that maintain them. Due to the fact that servers must make billions of operations per second, they can easily overheat, necessitating complex cooling systems. In 2025, the most efficient option is water cooling. A study by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute showed that “Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day, equivalent to the water use of a town populated by 10,000 to 50,000 people.” Research is underway to mitigate this, with experts suggesting solutions such as air-cooling systems or direct-to-chip cooling methods that will drastically reduce water consumption.
Another pressing concern that has appeared very recently is the fact that many users who are not careful when using large language models like ChatGPT or who have pre-existing psychological problems can become emotionally attached to ChatGPT. This is amplified by the fact that these AI models
What can be done?
Many data centers have sprung up in Northern Virginia in recent years. In fact, Northern Virginia has the most data centers in the United States. Many local groups have come together in opposition to data centers due to their environmental and resource impacts. One local group is the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC). The council has formed a coalition of more than 25 organizations across Virginia to persuade state lawmakers to “study the cumulative effects of data center development across Virginia, and to institute several reforms for the industry.” As AI and data centers take over our local communities, the PEC said, “Who is going to foot the bill and what are the implications for our air quality, climate goals, water resources, health and the environment?”
