To the editor:

Lynn is currently in a severe level 3 drought. Water conservation is a serious issue for our city, which has imposed strict restrictions on nonessential water use. For this reason, our elected officials rightfully ask residents to conserve water and comply with these restrictions.

Unfortunately, many of these same officials routinely rely on water-intensive, generative AI to produce event flyers, social media posts, videos, T-shirt designs, and countless other materials. Much of this “slop” is unattractive, often features artificial people and imagery, and could easily be created without the significant water and energy demands associated with this type of content creation.

Leadership means setting an example. If city officials expect residents to make sacrifices in the interest of water conservation, they should also consider whether their own habits reflect those same values. I encourage elected officials in Lynn to reflect on whether their use of generative AI is consistent with the water conservation goals and environmental principles the city promotes.

Eliot Smith
Lynn