Whatever your take on AI and its cost/benefit tradeoffs, having quantitative analysis is crucial. We need to talk about the costs of generative AI in the contextof the rest of our energy and material consumption. Without it the conversation tends toward virtue/vice signaling.

I’d like to stress that this is true regardless of your position, for or against genAI. It will make your argument more informed—and ultimately more persuasive—no matter your opinion. What it does not allow, is making a case for or against without also making a case for or against many other everyday activities we treat as normal.