(STEM)2 S7E3 Understanding the Labour & Environmental Impacts of AI in STEM Education

Series 7 Episode 3: Understanding the Environmental & Labour Costs of AI in STEM Education - In the third episode we explore how the environmental and labour impacts of new AI technologies may be impacting educational systems. Like earlier episodes in this series, we start by exploring how transformational technologies such as refrigeration and lead fuel cars and trucks may have benefitted society but also carried huge environmental issues as it relates to CFCs degrading the Earth’s ozone layer and the public health impacts of leaded gasoline which were generally mitigated through public policy and further technological innovation. In education, the benefits of AI can be significant as it relates to STEM lesson planning, teaching, and helping students with foundational skills development. However, like earlier technologies, it is important for STEM educators to understand current environmental impacts of AL tech/data centres on electrical grids and their heavy reliance on fresh water. This episode also looks at whether or not AI systems should have a labour tax as these technologies will likely impact and/or displace workers including teachers and/or paraprofessionals. The news link below on AI’s impact on the environment and a possible need to implement a labour tax on AI for job re-training and other societal benefits. (S7E3)

• News Link: AI has an environmental problem - Here’s what the world can do about that
• Article Link: Why we should tax AI