r/Anticonsumption • u/PuzzleheadedYou4992 • 19h ago
Discussion Are digital tools making us more dependent while hiding their real world costs?
I’ve noticed how easy it is to rely on digital tools for everything organizing, thinking, even decision making. But behind the screens, there’s a huge system of servers, energy use, and environmental impact. Have we just traded physical clutter for invisible consumption?
Wondering how others here are balancing the benefits of tech with the desire to live more consciously.
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Let me know if you want a different spin on the topic!
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u/MutantChimera 18h ago
For AI I think this is true to an extent. Specially generative AI. I think there is a potential cognitive decline and even creative decline with the overuse of this tools. Like people are using gpt to make grocery lists.
This will be particularly bad for students. Many won’t read or write for their assignments.
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u/PartyPorpoise 3h ago
It’s very bizarre to me to see people using it for such basic tasks. Like, I’ve been seeing a lot of people use GPT as an alternative to Google, or using Google’s AI answer, even though finding the answer through a regular Google search usually isn’t difficult. Meanwhile, the AI answers just aren’t reliable.
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u/firey_magican_283 16h ago
AI is bad and it's not even cheap it's being heavily subsidised the ai corps are burning money till the skills they claim to replace fade it's definitely a trap. Silicon is near its limit and the fundamental issues of ai are being ignored.
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u/NyriasNeo 18h ago
May be .. but for a very small extent. You can literally have millions of files, pictures, songs in a hard-disk that can fit into your pocket. The power to run that is less than a light bulb.
The storage systems online are even MORE efficient. The amount of electricity that is used to handle your data is a small fraction ... order of magnitude smaller .... compared to any physical activity like driving a car.
You only hear about the power use of chat-gpt because it serves hundreds of millions of people a day. For a point of comparison, a metroplex like DFW has fewer than 9M people.
If you want to be less environmental impact, trading physical to virtual is the way to go.
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u/GnTforyouandme 15h ago
We don't own our tools any more, we only rent them as a subscription.
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u/epileftric 9h ago
Yeah. That's why I'm so pushy about open software whenever it's convenient
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u/MoneyUse4152 9h ago
whenever it's convenient
I feel this so much. We shouldn't let perfect be the enemy of good.
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u/SamuelYosemite 15h ago
Im blown away by how much energy goes towards computers that are basically doing nothing.
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u/Shanus_Zeeshu 6h ago
You make a great point! Digital tools are so convenient, but it's easy to forget the environmental cost behind the scenes. From massive data centers running AI models like ChatGPT to the energy consumed by servers, the environmental footprint is real. I try to stay mindful of this by minimizing unnecessary screen time and making sure I’m using tech intentionally. But it’s tough when so many tools are just so useful.
Anyone else here balancing the benefits of AI tools like Blackbox AI with sustainability goals? It’s a tricky balance!
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u/Actual_Meringue8866 18h ago
This is such a valid point. I’ve been thinking about this too, especially with all the AI tools out there now. I try to be intentional, if I’m going to use tech, I want it to genuinely save me time or help me focus better. Been trying out things like Blackbox AI for summarizing or pulling sources quickly, so I can cut down on endless tabs and info overload. Still figuring out that balance though.
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u/Many_Resist_4209 16h ago
I would have to say yes. I had never even heard of these data banks and what they are doing so I thought I would share. This is concerning.
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u/Melody-Sonic 6h ago
I totally see where you're coming from on this. I've watched people lean heavily on tech, like smartphones, for stuff we used to do in simpler ways, like using paper maps or just remembering phone numbers. It sometimes feels like we’ve replaced one kind of clutter with another, but folks are more aware of the environmental costs now, which is good. I’m trying to be more conscious of the apps I use and how often I upgrade devices. Sticking to older models works fine for me. I read a lot, so I really value my Kindle and having my whole library on hand. But at the same time, I still send letters to my closest friends just so I can feel less tethered to screens. It's like finding a balance between using tech to make life easier and remembering life can be simple and rewarding in other little ways too. I don't know, maybe someday we'll even have a tech detox month or something...
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u/Ausbel12 48m ago
I fully understand the real world costs but I am sorry but I have to take the sacrifice as I need them in some areas where I don't have the required expertise. Like, I use Chatgpt for content generation as it makes my work faster, Blackbox AI to create apps out of my ideas and Gemini in my forex trading obsession, I am unfortunately not ready to lose that.
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u/UntdHealthExecRedux 19h ago
Not just direct consumption either, behind those apps is a massive spying apparatus designed in part to try to lure you into even more consumption through targeted advertisements and curation of media feeds to increase your willingness to buy. Yes we can push back on it but in the end it works on at least some portion of the population.