Sustainable and Green AI: A Narrative of Responsibility Amid Generative Technologies

Abstract: In the rapidly developing generative art and technology sectors, the increasing use of artificial intelligence raises important ethical questions. Beyond the safety and security challenges inherent to the enabling generative AI technologies, questions related to the environmental and social sustainability of their use also demand serious consideration. Although AI might facilitate the creation of previously impossible works, allowing creativity to flourish and enhancing artistic practice, it is vital that the impact of such technologies on the wider world is anticipated and deliberately shaped. Such considerations need to focus not only on the energy demand of the models and systems but also on the consumption, longevity, accessibility, repairability, availability of sustainable alternatives, and use of long-lived as well as of reusable or regenerating materials associated with these installations. AI models are frequently trained on large volumes of copyrighted content, raising questions around authorship and intellectual property. The motivations for collecting this data often remain opaque and the models trained on them deliver unpredictable outputs. It is crucial to ensure that AI is only used in creation when it significantly enriches the artistic process rather than simply acting as an additional automated tool. Social sustainability considers socio-economic and artistic power relations in the creation and appreciation of works, trying to prevent AI technologies from trespassing on the contributions of others or aggravating current inequalities by extending attention-based economies. It is easy to default to the role of consumer rather than creator when dealing with AI systems, but the wealth of technology should encourage exploration of more -humble yet also richer possibilities that engage with the surrounding cultural environment. Such reflections tend to expand the nature of both the input and the output in creative use, focusing on setting the imagination free while remaining ecologically and socially responsible (Gu, 2024). Keywords: Environmental Sustainability in AI, Energy-Efficient Generative Models, Ethical and Responsible AI Usage, AI and Intellectual Property Rights, Socioeconomic and Cultural Impacts of AI, Sustainable Creative Technologies