Just tell me which AI to use.

The eagle-eyed reader will note that we’re a bit off our usual cadence for the newsletter. While we are heading into the summer months and you can expect 3-4 weeks between emails, this last month’s lapse was more about good ole’ fashioned getting sh*t done. 

Thank you for your patience!

What AI Should I Use?

I’ve done a number of presentations for various audiences this spring, largely on Sustainable AI. As many readers will be aware, the impacts of AI on energy and water usage are outsized, and growing quickly as more data centers come online. Much of my speaking has centered on how to evaluate AI tools and use them more efficiently.

But after several presentations, across a variety of audiences, the majority of commentary comes down to either, “How can I reconcile my use of AI when it’s so bad?” or “Just tell me what AI I should use.“.

The Fundamentals

So many of you seem to be staring at the growing black hole of AI information, options, and functionality and aren’t sure where to begin. And for others, many of whom care about the environmental and ethical impact of AI, the negative impacts make it feel like a non-starter.

The good news is, the answer to both of these is the same: Look at what you value.

If you and/or your organization are concerned about the environmental impact of AI, look for the companies and models that are most efficient. If you’re concerned about the features and price, make that your focus. 

I’m not saying ignore all the other stuff, but to some extent, you should ignore all the other stuff. It’s very easy to get bogged down as the amount of information, the available tools, and the insights continue to grow exponentially. Go back to your fundamentals: use your values to pick a direction, and then move forward with purpose. You may not pick the best platform (almost certainly in 3 months it will not be the best). But the sooner you choose an acceptable tool and start working in it, the better off you will be. 

Please Use AI

I want to take just a moment to address those who still feel that AI is too terrible to use. Since I’ve just asked you to act with your values, I would be remiss if I didn’t give you a reason to use AI in spite of your values.

All I can say is that this is a massively important technology. In a few years, things will begin to be discussed in pre and post AI eras. The <insert thing here> after AI will be a completely different, for better or worse. 

But one thing you can count on is that if the people who care about the negative impacts of AI decide to stay out of using it, implementing it, or governing it, we can be confident that it will be worse. So even if you don’t like the current externalities, I urge you to get engaged in whatever way you feel you can to have a say in improving things.

Finding Direction

In all my speaking engagements I reference our Resources page, and I’m very proud of it. This is a great place for finding data and tools for AI efficiency and GreenTech in general.

The problem is, it keeps growing, and it’s very hard to process all the information it contains. I finally got smart and decided to use AI to help.

I’ve created a Notebook LM that contains some core instructions plus links to several leaderboards and datasets on energy, hallucinations, and safety. You can chat with it about your priorities and see what it recommends, though keep in mind this is based on a finite collection of data. Please feel free to share your feedback!

Summer Schedule

Did you know that Jen works at the Coven Cary providing Open Office hours each month? Bring your tech troubles and swing by to noodle through the latest AI process challenge or email config. No charge!
Check in June 18, July 16, or August 20 for help. 

Have you scheduled your Annual Review?
Marit Digital maintenance and hosting clients have an annual review of their website(s) and/or productivity platform (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) every year. If you haven’t scheduled yours, use the link below. And if you have a site or service that needs a review, get in touch!