Digital Sobriety: Sustainable Use of Gen AI in Higher Computing Education

Abstract

''Digital Sobriety'' advocates a more conscious and measured use of Gen AI in our teaching. This fashionable but profligate new technology, on its current trajectory, threatens the future of our planet. As computing educators and members of ACM as a professional society, what obligations do these aspects of the ''AI Revolution'' impose on us? To whom do we disclose the danger to the environment of an enthusiastic and uninformed adoption of GenAI in our teaching, by our students, colleagues and institutions? Instead of lemming-like rushing to adopt the newest shiny thing in the AI Revolution, what hard questions do we need to ask ourselves? Or should we simply ban the use of this fashionable but profligate new technology? We argue that Gen AI and its unconscious and enthusiastic adoption expose us as educators to accusations of profligacy in our actions and blind ignorance oof the environmental costs of our actions. In the ACM codes of ethics, we see obligations to act to ensure that computing technology contributes the social good ''In addition to a safe social environment, human well-being requires a safe natural environment. Therefore, computing professionals should promote environmental sustainability both locally and globally'' As computing educators we need to consider what obligations do these aspects of the ''AI Revolution'' impose on us.