We, as a society, are profoundly impacted by the internet. Platforms like social media play an intense role in our daily lives—especially in the lives of teenagers and younger generations. Celebrities post online, musicians share their work, and even the White House maintains official pages across multiple platforms.

 

Social media is used for socializing, networking, spreading information, and countless other purposes. Not everything on the internet is inherently bad, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t filled with harmful content. I grew up using the internet and still use it in moderation for entertainment and to stay informed about the world.

 

However, I’ve seen my fair share of horrifying, graphic videos online, along with countless child predators. I never wanted to be exposed to that, and neither should our future generations. It was bad enough when I was younger, and now it’s only getting worse.

 

With the rise of artificial intelligence, nothing online feels trustworthy anymore—not even the information we consume, and certainly not the images we see. AI can generate anything without limits, and that is deeply concerning. Tell me, how is that good for the general public? It isn’t.

 

Pedophiles are using AI to create videos of children being sexually assaulted. There was even a YouTube channel producing AI-generated videos of women being shot. In multiple cases, fathers have taken innocent photos of their children and used AI to generate nude images. The list goes on.

 

While AI text generation isn’t as visually harmful, it still contributes to extreme water usage and the spread of misinformation. AI can be extraordinary when used responsibly—for example, to help students study or to provide companionship for those in need of conversation. But when it comes to AI-generated images, nothing good comes out of it.

 

Yes, some argue that AI could help people recreate images of deceased loved ones, but even before AI existed, people hired artists to paint portraits or used Photoshop to create memorial images. Those methods were more authentic and heartfelt.

 

AI imagery should not be accessible to the general public, especially considering how easily it can be exploited by malicious individuals. And that’s not even half of the problem. The environmental impact is staggering—AI water consumption is projected to reach one trillion gallons by 2027. AI is harming the planet simply because some people are too lazy to imagine or create art themselves.

 

Nothing good comes from these AI-generated images. Recently, I even heard about an AI “actor,” and it’s honestly disheartening. Why would anyone pay to watch a movie generated by a machine? There’s no effort, no artistry—just laziness and artificiality.

 

Even this website uses AI as an option, but it shouldn’t be. Most people don’t realize the severe environmental consequences AI has. It’s contributing to water shortages, leaving entire cities struggling without access to clean water. Imagine working hard all day only to come home and find you can’t even take a shower—because resources are being wasted on generating fake images of imaginary friends.

 

It’s sickening to see what our world has become. Our ozone layer is finally beginning to heal, yet this reckless use of AI is setting us back. The world is deteriorating because of artificial intelligence.

 

If we truly want America to live up to its ideals, we must ban the use of AI-generated imagery—to protect our environment, our children, and our future as a whole.