Introduction

AI’s impact on energy is a growing issue within the global energy framework, bringing new and unique challenges and opportunities. From one angle, AI is driving up energy demand through the expansion of data centers, which consume large amounts of electricity. Alternatively, AI can enhance energy efficiency by predicting electricity needs and optimizing grids, making better use of resources. It’s crucial for students to understand both the positive and negative effects of AI on energy and explore ways to be part of positive change by being mindful of energy use in the digital landscape. By discussing the complexities of AI and energy use, students can make better informed decisions that contribute towards smarter use of energy. 

Materials

• Student Handout: Pros and Cons Planner
• WEF Article: Will AI Reduce Emissions or Increase Demand?

Bell Ringer

Kick off the class with a Bell Ringer to spark student discussion and engage them with the topic. 
“When it comes to energy supply and demand, do you think AI will contribute more toward improved energy savings and efficiency or more toward the increase in global energy consumption? Which way do you think the scale will tip?”

Students can be instructed to write their thoughts on a note card or journal, and then share their thoughts with their table group or person sitting next to them. The teacher can then call on students to communicate their perspectives.

Ensure that students’ initial answers are saved, allowing them to compare these responses with their conclusions at the end of the lesson to assess whether their learning has shifted their perspectives.

Assessing the Pros and Cons: Classroom Activity

Just like any new technology, there are pros and cons to adopting AI into our global systems and everyday lives. Students will use a pros and cons list planner (graphic organizer) to organize their learning on the issue of AI and Energy.

1. Before students start work on article analysis using the Pros and Cons List Planner, there are a few more excellent resources that the teacher can share with students to build their knowledge and awareness on the issue.

• First, The Energy Switch TV series has a thought-provoking and informative episode called “Can Artificial Intelligence Change Energy?” In this episode, Dr. Scott Tinker interviews Pamela Isom, Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office for the US Department of Energy, and Anima Anandkumar, Director of Machine Learning Research at NVIDIA. They share insights on the definition of AI and how it could improve energy efficiency.
• Second, students could also analyze this article Is Generative AI Really Going to Wreak Havoc on the Power Grid? to understand that the AI and energy landscape is rapidly changing, and the near future may look very different from what we envision due to new technologies being developed.

2. The teacher can divide the class into pairs, and communicate to students that they will be engaging with various media to assess and analyze AI’s impact on energy usage using the Pros and Cons Planner. Each group of two will read and analyze the article AI and Energy: Will AI Reduce Emissions or Increase Demand? and note both the positive and negative impacts of AI on energy consumption.

Pros and Cons Planner – Answer Key

Student answers will vary, but the main points from the article analyzed are included.

3. Once students have researched, listed, and discussed their pros and cons, they will write a conclusion or position statement, describing their personal opinion on the future of AI and Energy. They can also contrast this response with their initial response at the beginning of class in answer to the Bell Ringer to see if their learning has resulted in any shifts of perspective.

Extension Activity: Introduction

It may be helpful for students to review the difference between AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning), as one is a subset of the other.

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, where intelligence is defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge. It focuses on creating intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. ML stands for Machine Learning, which is defined as the acquisition of knowledge or skills. Machine learning is the subset of Artificial Intelligence that involves teaching machines to learn from data without being explicitly programmed.

Common uses of Machine Learning include Facebook’s automatic friend suggestions, Google’s search algorithms, stock price forecast, and online recommender systems.

Common uses of Artificial Intelligence include customer service via chatbots, Siri, Google Translate, and intelligent humanoid robots. Source: GeeksforGeeks

While the topic of AI and energy is fascinating and important on a global scale, the question remains: What can individuals do to contribute to reducing their digital footprint, as data center needs continue to climb?

How do people interact with AI and Machine Learning on a regular basis? Source: Beebom

• Chatbots and ChatGPT
• Search engines such as Microsoft Bing
• Gmail’s Smart Compose, Quick Reply and Grammar Check
• Google’s Live Caption and Transcribe
• Apple’s Fall Detection and Car Crash Detection
• Social media feeds’ algorithms
• Amazon and Netflix recommendations
• Google Assistant and Camera
• Alexa and Siri
• AI image generators
• Music and media streaming services, such as Spotify
• Video games such as Fortnite
• Google and Apple maps
• Facial recognition
• Smart speakers and other smart electronic devices
• Adaptive battery and charging

Optional Home Activity: AI Usage Audit

The average consumer interacts with AI through electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, smartphones, smart speakers, modern vehicles, gaming devices, smart thermostats, and even modern kitchen appliances, such as smart refrigerators that can automatically tell you when a food staple is getting low!

Students can conduct an AI Usage Audit, in which they will audit interaction with AI that they have over a certain period of time, for example, over a week or weekend. Students can then bring their results to class and discuss further steps they can take to minimize unnecessary use of AI and the environmental impact of their digital habits.

Below is an example of what the AI Audit Table would look like. Before creating a table, students can research and list ways they interact with AI on a daily or weekly basis and add them to the left column.

Example:

Student Name _______________________
Audit Beginning Date _________________________
Audit Ending Date ________________________

Quote: “Generative AI systems might already use around 33 times more energy to complete a task than task-specific software would.” Source: World Economic Forum

Reflection Question

Did this activity change your understanding on how much you interact with AI in your everyday life? Are there ways you can minimize AI use in your everyday life? Do you think this can mitigate AI’s energy consumption and help lessen the AI energy demand?