The New York Times Debate: Is AI the New Plastic?

Remember when plastic was everything? The golden ticket to cheaper manufacturing, maximum profit and easier living? Turns out the saying is true: Nothing comes without a price; and the world has paid its weight, now, in environmental devastation and a plastic island the size of a small continent floating around the Pacific. Some argue that the same will be true of artificial intelligence. It has been hailed as the most transformative technology since the internet, and could have huge benefits for battling climate change, industries, government and more. But concerns are piling up. The amount of energy required to build AI is already harming the planet more than helping it and big questions are being asking about its potential impact on society and ethical concerns. Will the benefits of AI outweigh its costs?