The "When-is-Generative-AI-Useful" Toolkit
👋The Genie in the lamp, the magical fairy with her three wishes, and now generative AI: humanity has always been fascinated by the idea of solving complex problems at the push of a button or by rubbing a magic lamp.
But while hardly anyone truly hopes for a genie or a fairy, generative AI is the long-awaited savior for many people. And, of course, it can be used for free and easily on a phone or in a browser. Genius, right? Not quite, says Stefan Kaufmann from Wikimedia Germany.
In our interview, Stefan describes the current approach to generative AI as a “search for a silver bullet that is supposed to serve as a universal solution for all possible problems.” However, using the example of administrative tasks, he shows why that can be very problematic. And in the process, he introduces his “When-is-Generative-AI-Useful” Toolkit.
In this newsletter:
🧱 Hardware following the Lego principle – this is how “Open Hardware” works
💡 RESET’s tips for more sustainable AI development and use
🤖 Could AI-powered robots solve our e-waste problem?
GenAI in Public Administration: Interview with Stefan Kaufmann
The Problem: The current hype surrounding generative AI too often leads to the technology being used as a universal solution, says Stefan Kaufmann from Wikimedia Germany. When it comes to administrative tasks, he sees the danger that language models will produce false information, which then has to be corrected manually. Furthermore, he argues that the technology is too energy-hungry and prevents the financing of more meaningful digitalisation approaches in public administration.
The Solution: “Linked Data” instead of GenAI! If public administrations are instead equipped with data sets that are usable by “Good-Old-Fashioned-AI,” many problems associated with language models can be avoided. To this end, Stefan Kaufmann has developed a “When-is-GenAI-Useful” Toolkit.
Quiz time! Is vegan clothing automatically environmentally friendly?
Click on your answer to find out. Good luck!
Interview with Lucie Hartmann from MNT Research
Our editor, Ben, recently dropped his laptop. The aluminum casing was bent, and for a short time, it looked as though he wouldn’t be able to close it anymore. While Ben was lucky—the casing could be bent back—such an accident would not be a major problem with a laptop from MNT Research. That’s because, thanks to Open Hardware, you can simply produce new parts yourself. Lucie Hartmann reveals in the interview how this works and whether it is more sustainable.
Our tips for sustainable development and application
Do you have friends or relatives who turn to ChatGPT for every little thing? Or who are even focusing on AI integrations in their company? If so, we have put together a comprehensive manual for the most sustainable possible use and development of AI applications.
Can AI-powered robots solve our e-waste problem?
Even though we view many AI applications critically from an ecological perspective, there are certainly potentials here too. A team of researchers in the Netherlands, for example, has developed robots that, thanks to artificial intelligence, can independently learn how to dismantle electronic components before recycling.
Get active! Demos, campaigns, petitions…
✊EcoCompute is happening in Berlin on November 13th and 14th! The fair focuses on the environmental consequences of digitisation, and you can attend workshops, visit expert panels, and much more there.
✊The United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Brazil from November 10th to 21st. A petition by Fridays For Future calls on Chancellor Merz to ensure that Germany takes a stronger stance on climate protection. Add your signature here.
Sustainability & digitalisation—Our reading tips
💡Our Ted Talk Tip: Sasha Luccione is, in our opinion, one of the most interesting critical voices in the AI bubble. In a Ted Talk, she reveals why we are all approaching “AI” wrong and how we should do it right.
⚠️ Are data centres worrying you too? Then you are not alone! A representative survey by Beyond Fossil Fuels has shown that the majority of respondents in five European countries are increasingly concerned about the water and energy consumption of data centres.
👑 “The AI-peror’s New Clothes”: Jim Thomas has adapted the well-known fairy tale for AI and—who would have thought—it fits astonishingly well. It might even be suitable as a bedtime story before falling asleep.
👩💻 When Microsoft veterans Holly and Will realised the company’s green promises clashed with its fossil fuel deals, they decided to act. Their resignations sparked a movement calling on Big Tech to face up to its role in the climate crisis.
Support solutions instead of doom and gloom: Donate to RESET
Do you like what you read and want more solutions for a sustainable world? Then support us with your donation to RESET! As a non-profit foundation, we are dependent on donations, so even a small donation can help our mission going.
Have an interesting event or project related to sustainability and digitalisation? Drop us a line at info@reset.org!