Generative AI search responses, such as the ones Chrome has started to implement recently, have a much larger carbon cost than a normal web search: (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-do-googles-ai-answers-cost-the-environment/. At present there is no way to opt out. We are in the midst of a worsening climate crisis. People should not have to bear that carbon cost unwillingly. So we call on Google to make this optional. 

Without a change, the exponentially larger carbon costs of automatic generative AI searches are being forced onto anyone who searches the web using Chrome, the most used web browser worldwide.

Given the current pressure on us all to reduce carbon use this is arguably the worst possible timing to enforce an estimated fourfold increase in the amount of energy needed for the public to make web searches. Some might say that further action is needed - why have generative AI in web searches at all when ChatGPT and the like exist? For now, to keep it achievable, the goal is to at least give people the choice.

Give us a choice! Make generative AI optional!

Edit: For information on the current implementation and choices re generative AI search on Google see here:

 https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683?sjid=17750043596351707920-EU

Sources\info:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-computer-scientist-breaks-down-generative-ais-hefty-carbon-footprint/​

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/04/26/the-untold-story-of-ais-huge-carbon-footprint/​

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00478-x​

https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2024/ais-carbon-footprint-appears-likely-be-alarming