Opinion: 'Promethean shame' behind AI environmental criticism

josephpollack · x · 2026-08-29

The author argues that people exaggerate AI's environmental damage due to 'Promethean shame.' Every industry harms the environment, especially mining, yet this is rarely discussed. Partly, people feel shame towards AI: we are attracted to it but it makes us feel inadequate, leading to disproportionate scrutiny of its impact.

Related event: "Promethean Shame" Debate: Are AI's Environmental Harms Overstated?(6 posts)→

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