Generative AI's impact on A Male Friend Who Spins it Aroundthe environment is still deeply understudied, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and its human effects are just as unclear.
In the latest of several AI technology assessments conducted by the GAO — a nonpartisan agency that provides audits and evaluations to Congress, executive agency leaders, and the general public upon request — the legislative office outlined multiple human and environmental risks posed by the tech's unhampered development and widespread use. "Generative AI may displace workers, help spread false information, and create or elevate risks to national security," the report reads. Threats to data privacy and cybersecurity, the use of biased systems, and a lack of accountability could have unintended effects on society, culture, and people, writes the GAO.
And just as pressing is the need to determine how much of an energy drain AI's training (and ongoing use) presents and how we can mitigate it.
"Training and using generative AI can result in substantial energy consumption, carbon emissions, and water usage," the GAO asserts. "The environmental effects of using generative AI have received less attention than the effects of training it... Definitive statements about these risks and challenges are difficult to make because generative AI is rapidly evolving, and private developers do not disclose some key technical information."
The lack of data from AI's developers is increasingly stymying environmental research, the GAO explains, hampering the evaluation of generative AI and its use cases, including those designed "for good." And existing policy actions, the GAO found, may not effectively address the humanimpact of generative AI over generations.
The Trump administration, and controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk, have not shied away from implementing artificial intelligence in the federal government, including new memoranda focused on accelerating the use of a "high-impact" American-made AI system. On April 24, Trump signed an executive order creating an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force, which will facilitate AI adoption among educators and K-12 students.
The AI order followed earlier executive orders rescinding the Biden administration's commitments to AI oversight. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have both said they want to maintain the country's "global dominance" in artificial intelligence and push back against "excessive regulation" of the technology, declining to sign onto to international AI agreements, including the recent Paris summit declaration on inclusive AI — the United Kingdom also chose not to sign on.
Trump's anti-climate science agenda has careened forward, bolstered by the president's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and slashing of federal science grants and research funding, including allotments to federal agencies like NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). Meanwhile, Trump has aligned himself (and received funding from) some of AI's biggest proponents, including xAI's Musk and OpenAI's Sam Altman.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Good Sustainability Government
SpaceX lands its first rocket on West Coast ground: Watch
Man who lost his testicles while showing off his scuba bong is fake news
No, PlayStation. The 'X' button is not actually the 'Cross' button.
Dude makes extremely smooth save after face
Google's new AI model is being used to remove image watermarks
TCL's new sound bar uses less speakers to get a better sound
Dude makes extremely smooth save after face
'Jeopardy!' car game from Drivetime adds trivia to your commute
Best security deal: The 8
Some things never change: 1996 career advice that's still solid
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for April 26: Tips to solve Connections #215
Man who lost his testicles while showing off his scuba bong is fake news
Motorola One Zoom is the most beautiful phone I've seen in years
Stop everything: the nation's zoos are in a vicious, wonderful #CuteAnimalTweetOff
Every MCU movie villain ranked, from "Iron Man" to "Thunderbolts*"
Celebrate the end of summer with 'Snowpiercer'
'Joker' wins top Venice Film Festival award given to Oscar winners
YouTube's $170 million fine isn't enough—and part of the FTC knows it
Is 'Sing Sing' streaming? How to watch the A24 drama at home.
'Joker' wins top Venice Film Festival award given to Oscar winners
An insanely venomous snake is currently on the loose in Florida, so that's greatAdorable social media robot dog looks like Zuckerberg's pup, natchThese cute little succulents look like bunnies throwing up the peace signThis fiery soccer goal must be seen to be believedBird staring at itself in this window is not having an existential crisisThe Fleshlight Launch is basically a giant robot hand you can hump'Mass Effect: Andromeda' gives a shout out to SpaceX with a nerdy easter eggBeyoncé is embarrassed by her mom's social media presence, tooGoogle opens up to kids under 13 with Family LinkThe Chinese government has had enough of your recipes and decor photosIkea India's parental leave policy leaves most U.S. companies in the dustTrump's Snoop beef is his latest attempt to distract us from some major issues'Mass Effect: Andromeda' gives a shout out to SpaceX with a nerdy easter eggBeyoncé is embarrassed by her mom's social media presence, tooPornhub plowed city streets because why notChina's police are now shooting down drones with radioEveryone's mocking the animations in the new 'Mass Effect'10 gifts to give Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her 84th birthdaySuperhero comics creators: we're political, and always have beenRapper tears into NME on Twitter after they put him on cover without permission Redux: Of Continuous Change by The Paris Review Redux: The Best Time for Bad Movies by The Paris Review Redux: You Don’t Know You’ve Remembered by The Paris Review Redux: Literary Gossip by The Paris Review How to Choose Your Perfume: A Conversation with Sianne Ngai and Anna Kornbluh by Jude Stewart Sheryl Sandberg, former Facebook COO, to step down from Meta board How to watch the 2024 Oscar nominations livestream Redux: Naked Lightbulb by The Paris Review Redux: An Ordinary Word by The Paris Review Objective Correlatives by Stephen Shore TikTok, tweens, and Sephora: Everything you need to know, according to the tweens themselves Against Any Intrusion: Writing to Gwen John by Celia Paul Wordle today: The answer and hints for January 22 Apple Vision Pro guided tour just dropped: 3 new things you may learn from it Redux: Another Drink by The Paris Review What to do when your kid sees something inappropriate online Redux: Furry Faces by The Paris Review Apple AirPods deal: AirPods under $100 Redux: Functionally Insane by The Paris Review Redux: Vulnerable to an Epiphany by The Paris Review
2.484s , 8227.0078125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【A Male Friend Who Spins it Around】,Wisdom Convergence Information Network