One Hour of Netflix = 100 AI Prompts. Time for a Bigger Conversation.

_{Rethinking the Climate Conversation Around AI}

We hear it often: AI is bad for the planet. Headlines warn of massive energy use. Critics dismiss it as wasteful or unethical. But here’s the question we’re not asking: Compared to what?

We’re not measuring AI against a clean, green baseline—we’re measuring it against the status quo. And the status quo is already deeply unsustainable.

_{The Bigger Picture}

Streaming one hour of Netflix can use up to 100 times more energy than sending a single AI prompt. A transatlantic flight emits more CO₂ than most people will ever use on AI in their lifetime.

And yet, we rarely question the environmental cost of the technologies we’ve already made peace with—streaming, flights, infinite scroll. But AI strikes a different chord. It’s not just new; it’s potent, fast-moving, and still largely misunderstood. And when something feels unfamiliar and powerful, our first response is often fear.

That fear is valid—but if it’s not held with awareness, it can cloud our ability to think critically or imagine what’s possible.

_{The Reality Behind the Data}

Yes, training large AI models like GPT-4 takes energy. But once trained, the cost to use them (called inference) is surprisingly low—often lower than a few minutes of Instagram scrolling or a Zoom call.

And unlike those, AI has the potential to help us think better, design smarter, and solve real problems—if we use it well.

_{What Are We Really Critiquing?}

We should absolutely be asking hard questions about the environmental impact of technology. But lumping all AI into a “bad for the planet” basket oversimplifies the issue.

We should be asking:

• Who is building these tools?
• What values are embedded in their design?
• How are we using them—as consumers, creators, communities?

Because the real danger isn’t that AI exists. It’s that we engage with any technology—streaming, flying, swiping—without intention.

_{A Better Direction}

What if we moved the conversation from blame to design? From guilt to strategy?

AI can be used to support regeneration—not just efficiency. It can help model climate solutions, streamline clean energy transitions, and support the evolution of post-capitalist systems. But only if we choose to use it that way.

Let’s zoom out. Think clearly. Design wisely.
Because AI isn’t the enemy.
Unconscious use is.