AI and environmental impact: A thematic analysis of the discursive contradictions produced by ChatGPT and Gemini

This study analyzes the discursive contradictions in the responses of the ChatGPT and Gemini language models regarding the environmental impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Based on a thematic analysis, responses generated in "interviews" from prompts about the relationship between AI and the global climate crisis were examined. We identified three themes: corporatism, belief in the potential of technology, and shared responsibility. We conclude that algorithmic textualities reinforce imaginaries that shift environmental responsibilities, contributing to the naturalization of the ecological impacts of AI. Finally, we emphasize the urgency of the debate on eco-media literacy in the field of Communication.

Keywords
artificial intelligence; environmental impact; technosolutionism; thematic analysis; communication