🧰 On My Use of AI

Artificial Intelligence (or Large Language Models, as they are also known) is everyone's favorite topic these days. For me, however, its helpfulness comes with a frequent reminder of its cost.


Original Content Written January 19, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Environmental Conservation

Design Technology

Dear Future Employer.

No one can dispute the utility and convenience that AI offers. From image creation to content creation, and from User Research to Prototyping the splash that AI has made ripples out to every industry. (Some say that AI has replaced Junior Designers, but I sure hope that's not the case!) With this tool in our industry struggling to research, design and iterate has become much simpler.


No one can dispute the utility and convenience that AI offers. From image creation to content creation, and from User Research to Prototyping the splash that AI has made ripples out to every industry. (Some say that AI has replaced Junior Designers, but I sure hope that's not the case!) With this tool in our industry struggling to research, design and iterate has become much simpler.


No one can dispute the utility and convenience that AI offers. From image creation to content creation, and from User Research to Prototyping the splash that AI has made ripples out to every industry. (Some say that AI has replaced Junior Designers, but I sure hope that's not the case!) With this tool in our industry struggling to research, design and iterate has become much simpler.


That said, though many of the tools have free versions (with varying limits) its easy to forget the cost. The below video goes into detail but the punchline is this: the data centers that power AI are causing an ecological crisis on the planet. A ton of fresh water is used to cool the machinery, much demand is placed on the power grid to for them to run (supplemented by fossil fuel burning), and many acres of land is being cleared to build these data centers damaging the local ecosystem. These practices are taking their toll on this planet.


That said, though many of the tools have free versions (with varying limits) its easy to forget the cost. The below video goes into detail but the punchline is this: the data centers that power AI are causing an ecological crisis on the planet. A ton of fresh water is used to cool the machinery, much demand is placed on the power grid to for them to run (supplemented by fossil fuel burning), and many acres of land is being cleared to build these data centers damaging the local ecosystem. These practices are taking their toll on this planet.


That said, though many of the tools have free versions (with varying limits) its easy to forget the cost. The below video goes into detail but the punchline is this: the data centers that power AI are causing an ecological crisis on the planet. A ton of fresh water is used to cool the machinery, much demand is placed on the power grid to for them to run (supplemented by fossil fuel burning), and many acres of land is being cleared to build these data centers damaging the local ecosystem. These practices are taking their toll on this planet.


So What's Being Done About This?


Legislation to put limits on AI when building data centers to mitigate energy impact and any other means to slow down or stop the damage is few and far between. In fact, there is some legislation that could potentially stop any limits can lead to a pretty scary future if nothing changes.


That's not to say that I'm against AI or its uses, nor am I sanctimonious enough to suggest a moral failing in anyone who does use AI frequently. My only point is that if AI use is going to have a steady and stalwart place in our future (which it seems to be), and the powers that be have no intention of slowing or mitigating its impact, I think that means it all depends on us.


What Can We Do?



All that being said, dear future employer, I submit to you a request. If this company utilized AI frequently, whether for work or play (I've certainly created a fun image here and there), we should each be given the opportunity to minimize the damage done. If there is a charitable giving department that employees can contribute toward, please consider adding charities that focus on addressing the issue of AI. If there is a way to keep use as low as possible and/or consider alternatives to its use, please consider doing so. As for me, my goal is to pay a portion of my income to causes like Climate Change AI and the Climate Justice Alliance. Of course, I'm just one person, so my hope in writing this is to encourage this company to back me up on this front. That way, we can take the good with this tool while slowing down or stopping the bad.


After all, I am for any tool that makes our designs better. Let's all (responsibly) make the most of it!


Sincerely,

Charmayne Knox

UX/UI Product Designer


Thank You For Reading!

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