Not all LLM trainers are so caustic to the world. A few use open datasets for the vast majority of their training, like Nvidia’s Nemotron series or a few Olmo derivates.

Many LLms are also trained on shoestring budgets, with a relatively negligible environmental impact.

But are also other huge ethical concerns, like entities behind them supporting censorship, fascism and such. The erosion of the world’s mental aptitude from how it’s presented. Security, labor, hacking and spamming, and so on.

…This is the thing with discussing “AI.”

It can be as nuanced as things get, but few care. Most seem to want things in simple absolutist terms, and they aren’t interested in any nuance, especially the gamers on either side of this debate.

Oh, absolutely. However, I also recognize that we live in an era where it's impossible to have completely ethical consumption, and I suspect many of those most vocal against any AI use are generally being more selective towards this one topic. I personally don't begrudge the (disclosed) use of the tech for applications where it is genuinely the best option available. The issues around training data and environmental concerns (even ignoring the effects of the economic bubble) are real and valid.

For the record, I do not use AI or support AI use, but I recognize that things are shifting and it will likely become a permanent tool. Hopefully the ethical issues will be ironed out before it's too entrenched. I suspect once regulation is in place and the bubble pops, what survives will be much more sane.