Publication date:
May 10, 2025
AI Filmmaking Raises Ethical Concerns in Energy-Intensive Creative Process
A filmmaker's use of AI to create a low-budget sci-fi film highlights the technology's potential and ethical challenges, including energy consumption concerns.
Energy
The intersection of artificial intelligence and creative industries is raising new questions about energy consumption and ethical considerations in film production. A recent short film, "Do Bangladroids Dream of Electric Tagore?" created by filmmaker and professor Aleem Hossain, showcases both the potential and the pitfalls of AI in creative processes.
Hossain produced the film for under $300 using AI tools such as Midjourney for image generation and ElevenLabs for voice synthesis. While this demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of AI in filmmaking, it also brings to light significant concerns about the technology's energy intensity.
AI systems, particularly those used for generating images and processing large language models, are known for their substantial energy requirements. As these tools become more prevalent in creative industries, there's a growing need to address their environmental impact. The energy consumption of AI systems could potentially offset the reduced carbon footprint achieved through minimizing traditional film production resources.
Moreover, the use of AI in creative processes raises questions about intellectual property rights and the potential displacement of human workers in various aspects of film production. Hossain himself expressed conflicting feelings about the technology, acknowledging its creative potential while also recognizing its ethical challenges.
For energy analysts and traders, this development signals a potential increase in energy demand from the entertainment and technology sectors as AI tools become more integrated into creative workflows. It also highlights the need for more energy-efficient AI systems and potentially creates opportunities for renewable energy solutions tailored to high-performance computing needs in creative industries.
As the film industry and other creative sectors continue to explore AI applications, balancing innovation with energy efficiency and ethical considerations will be crucial. This trend may influence energy policies and drive investments in more sustainable computing technologies to support the growing use of AI in various industries.
Hossain produced the film for under $300 using AI tools such as Midjourney for image generation and ElevenLabs for voice synthesis. While this demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of AI in filmmaking, it also brings to light significant concerns about the technology's energy intensity.
AI systems, particularly those used for generating images and processing large language models, are known for their substantial energy requirements. As these tools become more prevalent in creative industries, there's a growing need to address their environmental impact. The energy consumption of AI systems could potentially offset the reduced carbon footprint achieved through minimizing traditional film production resources.
Moreover, the use of AI in creative processes raises questions about intellectual property rights and the potential displacement of human workers in various aspects of film production. Hossain himself expressed conflicting feelings about the technology, acknowledging its creative potential while also recognizing its ethical challenges.
For energy analysts and traders, this development signals a potential increase in energy demand from the entertainment and technology sectors as AI tools become more integrated into creative workflows. It also highlights the need for more energy-efficient AI systems and potentially creates opportunities for renewable energy solutions tailored to high-performance computing needs in creative industries.
As the film industry and other creative sectors continue to explore AI applications, balancing innovation with energy efficiency and ethical considerations will be crucial. This trend may influence energy policies and drive investments in more sustainable computing technologies to support the growing use of AI in various industries.
