I’ve been thinking about whether OpenAI could offer a “climate add-on” feature for its services. The idea would be that users could opt to pay a small extra fee (e.g., $2/month) to offset the carbon footprint of their usage, with the funds supporting renewable energy projects, reforestation, or similar initiatives.
It seems like something that could align with OpenAIs goals and appeal to users who care about reducing the environmental impact of AI technologies. It might even set an example for other tech companies.
Has this idea been discussed here before? And how might something like this be implemented or developed further? I’d be interested to hear what others think or if similar ideas have been tried elsewhere.
Question: why would you trust a software company to make good decisions regarding global ecologic interventions?
Google is also trying to figure out how to introduce carbon offsets in a bunch of its offerings, I’m curious what the (consumer side) rationale generally is behind this movement (the investor side is obvious)
Thanks for the welcome
I think transparency would be key—if the company partnered with reputable organizations like Gold Standard or Carbonfund and clearly communicated where the money goes, it would help build trust.
The growing awareness of how energy-intensive AI services can be; For consumers who want to take responsibility for the environmental impact of using AI, having a straight forward way to offset that impact could make them feel more empowered and ethical in their usage. Here in Finland, for example, the mainstream media regularly discusses the power usage of AI and its impact.
So for consumers, I think the main appeal is convenience. People who care about their carbon footprint but don’t know where to start or how to choose the best options. If it were as simple as ticking a box while subscribing or updating a plan, more people would probably go for it. The easier it is, the more likely it is to actually happen.
So I guess, something is better than nothing. Even small steps can add up, especially if they inspire other companies to follow suit.
