Source: Freepik
Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of everyday life for many university members. Language models such as ChatGPT provide support in writing scientific texts, programming, research, and translations. RWTH Aachen University also has a powerful AI system at its disposal in the form of RWTHgpt, which can be used in a variety of ways. While the technical possibilities are constantly growing, another question is increasingly coming into focus: How sustainable is our use of AI?
The Price of Words
The use of large language models involves considerable energy consumption. Every single text prompt has to be processed by huge data centers, which require large amounts of electricity and also rely on complex cooling systems. The amount of water required for this is also considerable.
One aspect that is often overlooked is that even seemingly harmless pleasantries such as “Thank you very much!” or “That was very helpful” trigger a complete computing process of the model, with the corresponding consumption of resources. The associated power consumption leads to measurable CO₂ emissions, which have a negative impact on the carbon footprint. We also took a closer look at a similar connection between digital communication and CO₂ emissions in an article on email use. The more polite phrases are directed at AI, the higher the cumulative energy consumption. Politeness, as well-intentioned as it is, comes at a price in this context. Therefore, we advise:
Be cheeky to AI!
Efficiency Through Precision
AI systems have no consciousness. They do not respond to tone of voice, emotions, or interpersonal codes. A friendly approach does not lead to better results—but it does lead to additional energy expenditure. When dealing with language models, it is advisable to focus on the essentials: clear, direct, functional.
Instead of formulating requests with superfluous polite phrases, a precise question is usually sufficient. This not only shortens the response time but also minimizes the ecological footprint. By avoiding unnecessary requests, CO₂ can be effectively saved, energy consumption reduced, and a contribution made to sustainability.
Use RWTHgpt Consciously
RWTHgpt offers a data protection-compliant and university-specific solution that makes everyday life easier for many students and employees. Due to its versatile applications, it is worth thinking about your own communication style. Short, targeted entries reduce the load on the infrastructure and demonstrate an awareness of the environmental impact of digital systems.
Saving Resources Starts with Your Input
Language models are tools, not conversation partners. If you’re aware of this fact, you can make a small contribution to the responsible use of digital technologies with every precise input. Objectively formulated queries promote the efficient use of the systems and help to keep their ecological footprint as small as possible. Using AI responsibly means thinking efficiently and acting sustainably.
You can read more about sustainability in our article on Digital Clean Up Day.
Responsible for the content of this article are Hania Eid and Malak Mostafa.
The following source served as the basis for this article:
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