On April 14, the Office of Integral Ecology hosted Coded Costs: AI’s Impact on the Environment and Vulnerable Communities, a Deliberative Dialogue that brought members of the Barry University community together with local experts to explore the environmental and social implications of artificial intelligence.
The event was open to the public and included participation from Barry faculty, staff, and students, as well as community experts from Florida Rising and the CLEO Institute. The dialogue provided an opportunity for participants to consider how the growing use of artificial intelligence may affect energy and water resources, the environment, and communities that may experience the impacts of technological development in different ways.
Discussion centered on three guiding questions: What resources are required to power artificial intelligence? Who experiences the environmental and social impacts associated with these technologies? And what approaches can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable technological future?
As a Deliberative Dialogue, the event was designed to engage different perspectives to move beyond identifying challenges and create space for participants to consider possible responses. Panelists and participants discussed questions of responsible technology use, the environmental implications of increasing demand for computing resources, the role of education and individual decision-making, and ways communities can participate in conversations about technological development.
The dialogue reflects the Office of Integral Ecology’s commitment to creating opportunities for the Barry community to engage thoughtfully with emerging environmental and social issues. By bringing together members of the University and community partners with different areas of knowledge and experience, the event encouraged informed conversation about the relationship between technology, human communities, and our common home.
