In a unique demonstration against the environmental costs of artificial intelligence, approximately 50 community members gathered outside Chile's capital on Saturday to operate a fully human-powered chatbot. This innovative project, named Quili.AI, aimed to draw attention to the significant environmental toll exerted by AI data centers in the region, particularly focusing on their water and energy consumption.
A Message Through Human Interaction
Organizers reported that the 12-hour initiative successfully fielded more than 20,000 requests from users across the globe, with inquiries continuing to pour in even after the event concluded. Unlike conventional AI platforms such as ChatGPT or Google's Gemini, Quili.AI did not provide instant responses. Instead, when a user requested an image of a "sloth playing in the snow," the system responded in Spanish, asking for patience and reminding the user that a human was behind the reply.
Approximately ten minutes later, a hand-drawn pencil sketch arrived: a charming, cartoonish sloth nestled in a pile of snowballs, playfully clutching one as if ready to throw it. This deliberate delay underscored the project's core message about the hidden resources behind instant AI outputs.
Highlighting the Hidden Water Footprint
"The goal is to highlight the hidden water footprint behind AI prompting and encourage more responsible use," explained Lorena Antiman, an organizer from the environmental group Corporación NGEN. The responses were generated by a rotating team of volunteers working on laptops within a community center in Quilicura, a municipality on the outskirts of Santiago that has transformed into a hub for data centers.
When an Associated Press reporter inquired about the artist behind the sloth drawing, the website revealed it was created by a local youth assisting with illustrations. This personal touch highlighted the human element at the heart of the project.
Cultural Knowledge and Collaborative Answers
Quili.AI demonstrated remarkable efficiency in addressing questions that tapped into local cultural expertise. For instance, queries about preparing Chilean sopaipillas, a traditional fried pastry, received prompt and accurate responses. However, when volunteers encountered unfamiliar questions, they adopted a collaborative approach, walking around the room to seek answers from others.
"Quili.AI isn’t about always having an instant answer. It’s about recognizing that not every question needs one," Antiman emphasized. "When residents don’t know something, they can say so, share perspective, or respond with curiosity rather than certainty."
Balancing AI Value with Environmental Awareness
Antiman clarified that the initiative does not seek to dismiss the "incredibly valuable" applications of artificial intelligence. Instead, it encourages deeper reflection on the impacts of excessive "casual prompting" in regions like Quilicura, which are already grappling with water stress. This campaign emerges against a backdrop of ongoing debates in Chile and globally regarding the substantial costs associated with AI usage.
Data centers housing computer chips for AI systems demand enormous amounts of electricity, and many also consume significant volumes of water for cooling purposes. The exact usage varies based on location and equipment type, but the environmental implications are increasingly concerning.
The Data Center Expansion in Santiago
Major cloud computing corporations, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, have established or planned data centers in the Santiago region. Google has defended its Quilicura data center, operational since 2015, as the "most energy efficient in Latin America." The company has also pointed to its investments in wetlands restoration and irrigation projects within the nearby Maipo River basin.
Despite these efforts, Google faced legal challenges over another project near Santiago due to concerns about water usage. This controversy highlights the tension between technological advancement and environmental sustainability in a country that has endured a severe decade-long drought. Experts link this drought to the recent spread of devastating wildfires, underscoring the urgency of addressing resource consumption in water-stressed areas.
Through Quili.AI, Chilean activists have creatively spotlighted the environmental trade-offs of our AI-driven world, advocating for a more mindful and responsible approach to technology that considers both its benefits and its ecological footprint.
