I wonder what your stance on AI is? I notice you used AI generated images twice in this post, which in all honesty seems quite antithetical to the point you're trying to make. According to this article from earth.org (https://earth.org/the-green-dilemma-can-ai-fulfil-its-potential-without-harming-the-environment/) AI's impact on the environment is not very good, and as an artist AI poses a threat to me specifically. I really love the Solarpunk cause, and I'd love to keep being part of it, but this just doesn't sit right with me. I'm curious what you have to say about this.
Hi Mica, thanks for your your considered and thoughtful question. A full response about our stance on AI will probably need a whole Substack post.
In the meantime let me say I really appreciate your concern regarding the energy use involved in AI tools. It's worth putting that use in context. If you look at environmental engineer Katie Patrick's excellent IG post on the topic here >(https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5GL4YS_6U/?hl=en-gb) it has a diagram breaking down energy use of generating 40 AI images compared to other common activities. As you'll see you can make about 1600 Midjourney images for one five minute long hot shower.
If we were to live in a world where everyone has the same level of Personal Carbon Quotas (as in our first SolarPunk Detective story https://www.solarpunkstories.com/buy-our-1st-story), I could generate thousands of images per week compared to someone who has hot showers every day, as I take cold showers.
We've been championing solarpunk since before AI. Back then images of deliciously sustainable futures were extremely thin on the ground and hampered our efforts at spreading the word. Tools like MidJourney allow volunteer groups without budgets, like us, to make imagery to mobilise many more people to create a solarpunk world. We feel that on the whole it's a net benefit.
Thanks again for your question. It's inspired us to get more in depth on this and write a fuller Substack post about in the future.
My wife has a friend near Columbus, OH, who runs a tree rental business.
Great. Where do they replant them?
I'll ask.
I wonder what your stance on AI is? I notice you used AI generated images twice in this post, which in all honesty seems quite antithetical to the point you're trying to make. According to this article from earth.org (https://earth.org/the-green-dilemma-can-ai-fulfil-its-potential-without-harming-the-environment/) AI's impact on the environment is not very good, and as an artist AI poses a threat to me specifically. I really love the Solarpunk cause, and I'd love to keep being part of it, but this just doesn't sit right with me. I'm curious what you have to say about this.
Hi Mica, thanks for your your considered and thoughtful question. A full response about our stance on AI will probably need a whole Substack post.
In the meantime let me say I really appreciate your concern regarding the energy use involved in AI tools. It's worth putting that use in context. If you look at environmental engineer Katie Patrick's excellent IG post on the topic here >(https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5GL4YS_6U/?hl=en-gb) it has a diagram breaking down energy use of generating 40 AI images compared to other common activities. As you'll see you can make about 1600 Midjourney images for one five minute long hot shower.
If we were to live in a world where everyone has the same level of Personal Carbon Quotas (as in our first SolarPunk Detective story https://www.solarpunkstories.com/buy-our-1st-story), I could generate thousands of images per week compared to someone who has hot showers every day, as I take cold showers.
I'd also say that the Earth.org piece you linked to implies that AI only has negative implications for things like agriculture. This Positive News piece >(https://www.positive.news/society/could-ai-help-save-planet-four-ways-making-world-of-difference/) gives examples of how that's not the case.
We've been championing solarpunk since before AI. Back then images of deliciously sustainable futures were extremely thin on the ground and hampered our efforts at spreading the word. Tools like MidJourney allow volunteer groups without budgets, like us, to make imagery to mobilise many more people to create a solarpunk world. We feel that on the whole it's a net benefit.
Thanks again for your question. It's inspired us to get more in depth on this and write a fuller Substack post about in the future.