Foregone benefits
The development and operation of AI systems causing environmental harm, such as through energy consumption of data centers, or material and carbon footprints associated with AI hardware.
"AI is disused (not developed or deployed) in directions that would benefit animals (and instead developments that harm or do no benefit to animals are invested in)"(p. 12)
Supporting Evidence (3)
Example: "Pharmaceutical companies do not invest in AI-enabled veterinary medicine for companion or wild animals because other areas are more profitable"(p. 12)
Example: "Environmental and animal groups fail to receive sufficient funding to develop and maintain AI to monitor and protect animals"
"Our fifth category of foregone benefits from AI results from an absence of positive outcomes that might have eventuated but for certain decisions. We suggest these can plausibly be counted as animal harms as they could result in suffering, frustrated preferences, absence of valuable activities, etc. Further, some omissions may be culpable, and certain AI applications may be morally worth incentivising, such as alternatives to animal testing and improved veterinary medicine."(p. 13)
Other risks from Coghlan & Parker (2023) (11)
Intentional: socially condemned/illegal
6.6 Environmental harmIntentional: socially condemned/illegal > AI intentionally designed and used to harm animals in ways that contradict social values or are illegal
6.6 Environmental harmIntentional: socially condemned/illegal > AI designed to benefit animals, humans, or ecosystems is intentionally abused to harm animals in ways that contradict social values or are illegal
6.6 Environmental harmIntentional: socially accepted/legal
6.6 Environmental harmUnintentional: direct
6.6 Environmental harmUnintentional: direct > AI is designed in a way that shows ignorant, reckless, or prejudiced lack of consideration for its impact on animals
6.6 Environmental harm