The story is always the same: major tech companies tell us they care about the environment to silence criticism, then never actually follow through.
Google’s emissions are up ~50% in 5 years, following similar news Microsoft is also blowing past its climate commitments.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/02/google-ai-emissions
Our faculty affiliate Elaine says "The ideal solutions, she adds, require talking to patients and the clinicians serving them to find out what they really need, and letting their input guide the development process. App developers, Nsoesie says, are typically not doing that research or soliciting feedback.
“That’s just more effective,” she concludes. “But it requires that you actually prioritize people rather than money.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/ai-health-care-patient-safety-privacy-1235006118/
Interesting to see Microsoft referring to data centers as “AI infrastructure,” further abstracting what they are and the resource demands that come with them.
It’s April 2024 and journalists are still publishing stories about conversations they had with chatbots 🫠
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/chatgpt-ai-boyfriend-spicy-8ac6a6e9
My latest story for the Globe & Mail newspaper: cheap armed drones, manufactured by the likes of UAE, Turkey, Iran & China, are causing mayhem across Africa.
Sudan, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Burkina Faso & Nigeria, have all seen drone massacres in recent times. Co-authored with legendary journo Geoff York, we cite five atrocities caused by drones that now cost as little as $1 million.
Also features survivors of a Feb 19 drone massacre of 30 civilians in Ethiopia.
The confidence instilled in African leaders (who are giddy with glee after drone manufacturers sell them the idea of swift victory) is leading to the cancellation of peace talk initiatives & the prolonging of wars.
And of course, an increase in human suffering.
Anyone following the Gaza onslaught fueled campus protests, will have heard denunciations of corporations such as bulldozer manufacturer, Caterpillar.
In the same vein, my thread on drone manufacturer Baykar:
https://dair-community.social/@ZekuZelalem/111727472359712627
Attached: 2 images THREAD: Whitewashing the Bayraktar TB2's bloodshed. I'm addressing this topic, as it's relevant again and it got erased with my previous instance: When the discussion of affirmative action in journalism is brought up, some believe that the sole objective of it is ensuring employment and growth opportunities for journalists of all backgrounds. They couldn't be more wrong. By diversifying a newsroom, you ensure greater care for ethics & sensitivities of a broader and all encompassing audience.
The @nationalnurses guidance on AI in the healthcare setting is excellent. Talk about immediately seeing through the hype!
https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/artificial-intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding in all workplaces, and hospitals are no exception. Without our collective action, AI’s expansion will accelerate the hospital industry’s race to the bottom and drastically limit nurses’ ability to provide quality care.
Paris Marx
DAIR
Mar Hicks
Zecharias Zelalem
Alex Hanna