Overview:
Fears of environmental degradation and laziness are deterring some folks from using AI.
As artificial intelligence has advanced exponentially in recent years, it has become a contentious topic. Some people use it avidly, while others are more hesitant due to concerns like energy use. Last March, the University of Colorado rolled out ChatGPT Edu for students and faculty, which the university says is an “equitable, safer alternative to public AI platforms.”
This week, for Bucket List on the Street, we asked people on Pearl Street how they use artificial intelligence in their lives, and if they don’t, why not?
Life hack or creativity killer?
Kendra Lynn, who lives in South Boulder and works on Pearl Street, said she doesn’t use AI. Lynn was one of many Boulderites concerned about AI’s environmental impact, as well as its effect on our brains.
“I think it’s kind of a creativity-killer, and it also kills our environment, and I’m really not about that,” Kendra said. “I think it could be a good tool, but it needs to be regulated for sure.”
Some Buffs use AI… with caution.
Riley Young, a sophomore at CU Boulder, said she uses AI only as a last resort.
“I try my best not to use it,” she said, “But I’m a Japanese minor, so sometimes it explains things better and more specifically than Google would.”
Young said she tries not to use it too often because she doesn’t want to contribute to the environmental impacts of AI.
Other graduates think it’s unnecessary.
Jeremy Atwood from Loveland said he doesn’t see the need for AI in his life.
“I don’t really have a problem with it; other than I feel like it’s kind of lazy almost. Why would you let a tool do something you could do on your own?”
Atwood cited concerns that students in his classes were writing essays using AI. “They were paying to go to school and then not doing any of the work.” He said he saw this as a waste of time and money, saying they weren’t actually learning.
ChatGPT doesn’t know everything
Freddie Ambrose from Longmont said that he does not use AI because it’s not relevant in his job.
“I’m a park ranger, so I don’t have any use for it,” he said. “I create educational programs for visitors, so I feel like it just feels a little dishonest to not create that from information that I know, but from AI.”
Some environmentalists are using AI for good.
Local Boulder celebrity Stele Ely, nicknamed the “XOEarth Guy” for his environmental activism through art, music and performance, said he uses AI frequently, but intentionally.
“I use [AI] a lot for questions to decide the best strategy for helping the planet,” said Stele Ely, who frequently walks around Boulder with a miniature globe dangling from his bike helmet. “Usually small queries, no AI ‘slop,’ nothing that uses big bandwidth.”
Ely said he uses AI the same way he drives his car, only when absolutely necessary.
Overall, most people we talked to seemed hesitant about using AI, although some said it feels unavoidable. Students use it as a study tool, and some adults are trained on it at work. Most people said they were aware of the environmental impacts, but still use it anyway.
