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Good presentation. Is it okay to point this at some of the mindless idiots I keep meeting ?</div>
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<b>From:</b> mskala@northcoastsynthesis.com <mskala@northcoastsynthesis.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> 24 April 2026 13:15<br>
<b>To:</b> Mike Bryant <mbryant@futurehorizons.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> synth-diy@synth-diy.org <synth-diy@synth-diy.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [sdiy] AI code generation</div>
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<div style="font-size: 11pt;">Among many problems with getting involved in a discussion of environmental<br>
impact of AI, is that for very many people who participate in such<br>
discussions, environmental impact is not the real issue. It is at best a<br>
rationalization of a position taken for other reasons.<br>
<br>
Recent research at the University of Toronto supports the idea that many<br>
opponents of the use of AI, oppose AI as a moral issue - seeing AI as<br>
wrong *in itself*, not because of any consequences or claimed<br>
consequences. The distinguishing feature of that kind of opposition is "I<br>
say it's bad for the environment, but even if that were proven not to be<br>
true, I would still oppose it." So why bother even discussing whether the<br>
consequence-based point is true? Is it to convince others, with an<br>
argument that didn't convince oneself?<br>
<br>
I did a video going through the research paper in detail on my site here:<br>
<a href="https://matthewexplains.com/11190144/" id="OWA274dc89a-23d0-370d-4514-2918d8142fa9" class="OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable">
https://matthewexplains.com/11190144/</a><br>
<br>
Most videos on that site require at least creating a free account to watch<br>
(and many are pay-only), but that particular one is free without login.<br>
<br>
For either side I think it's valuable to know as much as possible about<br>
what's really being discussed, and this paper seems like a step in that<br>
direction.<br>
<br>
--<br>
Matthew Skala<br>
North Coast Synthesis Ltd.</div>
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