Human Intelligence Coalition
Consumers have many ecological, socioeconomic and ethical concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI*) and its daily use. Businesses and investors have their own set of concerns around AI as well. We want to enable consumers, businesses and investors to make their own choices in buying, using, or investing in products or services that utilize AI, in content creation as well as in behind-the-scenes processes. This would begin with offering an optional universal labelling system for products and services that are AI-free, but can branch out to workshops, education, and even alternative products and services that are AI-free.
*AI in this context is defined as any digital-based application that relies on Generative AI (generating content through prompts to Large Language Models (LLMs)), or any general process or workflow that relies on LLM-backed, prompt-based automation.
Ecological Concerns
Due to the incredibly large volume of data and computation required for AI models to function, large data centers are being built all over the country. These data centers raise significant environmental concerns due to carbon emissions, as well as water usage for cooling. According to a study by Morgan Stanley, the global data center industry will emit 2.5 billion tons of CO2 through 2030 through the amount of electricity required to run them. This is a larger emission footprint than most countries. As the electricity use increases the use of fossil fuels, it also will significantly impact energy demand and raise energy prices for residents in areas surrounding these data centers. In order to absorb the heat of all of these large computational machines, a significant amount of water is needed. Most data centers acquire this water by diverting local freshwater reserves. Large data centers are estimated to use 1-5 million gallons of water a day. This water typically comes from municipal sources and is potable water. This means city reservoirs are having their drinking water diverted to cool data centers. Extensive land use and noise pollution are negative impacts on the area directly surrounding data centers, which are disproportionately built in low-income and minority communities.
Economic Concerns
As AI-adoption increases in companies across the nation, workers are being laid off and their tasks are being handled by AI agents and programs. In fact, the forced adoption of AI within work forces has the effect of workers essentially training AI to replace themselves. Thousands of employees have already been laid off in the US in the first half of 2026.
Mental Health Concerns
On top of these ethical concerns, the widespread use of AI chatbots and other tools are increasingly exacerbating mental health issues in users, driving unhealthy parasocial relationships and even suicides. Especially vulnerable are the developing minds of young children and teens prone to social isolation.
Lack of Transparency
With all of these very real concerns surrounding Artificial Intelligence and its use and impacts, consumers are being left out of the conversation. Big tech companies are adding AI to every product, irrespective of consumer demand. Companies are also adopting AI within their daily workflows and SOPs, often invisible to the end consumer. We believe there is a growing demand from consumers for more transparency around what products, services or companies are utilizing AI. Those consumers with serious reservations about AI should be allowed to spend their money on alternatives, if they could only find them.