Chilean Community Powers Human Chatbot to Highlight AI's Environmental Cost
A community outside Chile’s capital launched a human-operated chatbot, Quili.AI, on Saturday to highlight the environmental impact of artificial intelligence data centers in the region. About 50 residents spent 12 hours powering the system, which answered questions and created images, receiving over 25,000 requests globally.
A Human-Powered AI Experience
The project demonstrated a slower, human response time compared to conventional AI. For example, a request for a “sloth playing in the snow” resulted in a hand-drawn sketch about 10 minutes later, with a human responder reminding the user of the human involvement behind the system.
Unveiling AI's Hidden Water Footprint
Lorena Antiman of CorporaciĂłn NGEN, an environmental group, stated that the initiative aims to emphasize the hidden water footprint behind AI prompting and encourage responsible use.
"The initiative aims to emphasize the hidden water footprint behind AI prompting and encourage responsible use."
Quilicura, the municipality where the event took place, has become a hub for data centers. The project’s goal is not to reject AI's valuable uses but to promote awareness about the impacts of extensive “casual prompting” in water-stressed areas like Quilicura. Chile has experienced a decade of severe drought.
Data Center Hub in a Drought-Stricken Region
Major cloud computing companies, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, have established or planned data centers in the Santiago region. Google’s Quilicura data center, operational since 2015, is described as energy-efficient, and the company has invested in wetland restoration. However, Google previously faced legal challenges over water usage concerns for another project near Santiago.