{"683491":{"#nid":"683491","#data":{"type":"news","title":"\u2018AI Veganism\u2019: Some People\u2019s Issues With AI Parallel Vegans\u2019 Concerns About\u00a0Diet","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENew technologies usually follow the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hbr.org\/data-visuals\/2024\/03\/the-technology-adoption-life-cycle\u0022\u003Etechnology adoption life cycle\u003C\/a\u003E. Innovators and early adopters \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.13140\/RG.2.2.23573.84969\u0022\u003Erush to embrace new technologies\u003C\/a\u003E, while laggards and skeptics jump in much later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt first glance, it looks like artificial intelligence is following the same pattern, but a new crop of studies suggests that AI might follow a different course \u2013 one with significant implications for business, education and society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis general phenomenon has often been described as \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/51086\u0022\u003EAI hesitancy\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d or \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/frai.2022.1006173\u0022\u003EAI reluctance\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d The typical adoption curve assumes a person who is hesitant or reluctant to embrace a technology will eventually do so anyway. This pattern has repeated over and over \u2013 why would AI be any different?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEmerging research on the reasons behind AI hesitancy, however, suggests there are different dynamics at play that might alter the traditional adoption cycle. For example, a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/961d338d-c058-4fc8-b3e8-3753dc2f171e\/content\u0022\u003Erecent study\u003C\/a\u003E found that while some causes of this hesitation closely mirror those regarding previous technologies, others are unique to AI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn many ways, as someone who \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=yaCigtkAAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Eclosely watches the spread of AI\u003C\/a\u003E, there may be a better analogy: veganism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAI Veganism\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idea of an AI vegan is someone who abstains from using AI, the same way a vegan is someone who abstains from eating products derived from animals. Generally, the reasons people choose veganism do not fade automatically over time. They might be reasons that can be addressed, but they\u2019re not just about getting more comfortable eating animals and animal products. That\u2019s why the analogy in the case of AI is appealing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike many other technologies, it\u2019s important not to assume that skeptics and laggards will eventually become adopters. Many of those refusing to embrace AI actually fit the traditional archetype of an early adopter. The study on AI hesitation focused on college students who are often among the first demographics to adopt new technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is some historical precedent for this analogy. Under the hood, AI is just a set of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-an-algorithm-how-computers-know-what-to-do-with-data-146665\u0022\u003Ealgorithms\u003C\/a\u003E. Algorithmic aversion \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/bdm.2155\u0022\u003Eis a well-known phenomenon\u003C\/a\u003E where humans are biased against algorithmic decision-making \u2013 even if it is shown to be more effective. For example, people \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022243719851788\u0022\u003Eprefer dating advice from humans\u003C\/a\u003E over advice from algorithms, even when the algorithms perform better.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the analogy to veganism applies in other ways, providing insights into what to expect in the future. In fact, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.appet.2021.105614\u0022\u003Estudies show\u003C\/a\u003E that three of the main reasons people choose veganism each have a parallel in AI avoidance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEthical Concerns\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne motivation for veganism is concern over the ethical sourcing of animal by-products. Similarly, studies have found that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/informatics11030058\u0022\u003Ewhen users are aware\u003C\/a\u003E that many content creators did not knowingly opt into letting their work be used to train AI, they are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10447318.2023.2178612\u0022\u003Emore likely to avoid using AI\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022a woman in a crowd holds a sign over her head\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=429\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=429\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=429\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=539\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=539\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/682523\/original\/file-20250728-78-kk610m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=539\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EMany vegans have ethical concerns about the treatment of animals. Some people who avoid using AI have ethical concerns about the treatment of content creators.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/protester-holds-a-pro-vegan-placard-during-the-news-photo\/1627640210?adppopup=true\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EVuk Valcic\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese concerns were at the center of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes in 2023, where the two unions \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41599-024-04204-w\u0022\u003Eargued for legal protections\u003C\/a\u003E against companies using creatives\u2019 works to train AI without consent or compensation. While some creators may be protected by such trade agreements, lots of models are instead trained on the work of amateur, independent or freelance creators without these systematic protections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEnvironmental Concerns\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA second motivation for veganism is concern over the environmental impacts of intensive animal agriculture, from deforestation to methane production. Research has shown that the computing resources needed to support AI \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.2139\/ssrn.4887664\u0022\u003Eare growing exponentially\u003C\/a\u003E, dramatically increasing demand for electricity and water, and that efficiency improvements are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cnrs.hal.science\/hal-04839926\/\u0022\u003Eunlikely to lower the overall power usage\u003C\/a\u003E due to a rebound effect, which is when efficiency gains spur new technologies that consume more energy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne preliminary study found that increasing users\u2019 awareness of the power demands of AI can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/3706599.3719708\u0022\u003Eaffect how they use these systems\u003C\/a\u003E. Another survey found that concern about water usage to cool AI systems \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thetimes.com\/uk\/education\/article\/gen-z-students-wont-use-chatgpt-but-not-because-its-cheating-v8rffjlc0\u0022\u003Ewas a factor\u003C\/a\u003E in students\u2019 refusal to use the technology at Cambridge University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022a woman in a crowd holds a hand-painted sign\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/681602\/original\/file-20250722-55-dy0wpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EBoth AI and meat production spark concerns about environmental impact.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/protester-holds-a-placard-saying-vegan-for-the-planet-at-news-photo\/1243489167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EKichul Shin\/NurPhoto via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EPersonal Wellness\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA third motivation for veganism is concern for possible negative health effects of eating animals and animal products. A potential parallel concern could be at work in AI veganism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Microsoft Research study found that people who were more confident in using generative AI showed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/3706598.3713778\u0022\u003Ediminished critical thinking\u003C\/a\u003E. The 2025 Cambridge University survey found some students avoiding AI out of concern that using \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thetimes.com\/uk\/education\/article\/gen-z-students-wont-use-chatgpt-but-not-because-its-cheating-v8rffjlc0\u0022\u003Eit could make them lazy\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is not hard to imagine that the possible negative mental health effects of using AI could drive some AI abstinence in the same way the possible negative physical health effects of an omnivorous diet may drive some to veganism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow Society Reacts\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVeganism has led to a dedicated industry catering to that diet. Some restaurants feature vegan entrees. Some manufacturers specialize in vegan foods. Could it be the case that some companies will try to use the absence of AI as a selling point for their products and services?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf so, it would be similar to how companies such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/duckduckgo.com\u0022\u003EDuckDuckGo\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mozillafoundation.org\/en\/\u0022\u003EMozilla Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E provide alternative search engines and web browsers with enhanced privacy as their main feature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are few vegans compared to nonvegans in the U.S. Estimates range as high as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.statista.com\/topics\/3377\/vegan-market\/#topicOverview\u0022\u003E4% of the population\u003C\/a\u003E. But the persistence of veganism has enabled a niche market to serve them. Time will tell if AI veganism takes hold.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/260277\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/ai-veganism-some-peoples-issues-with-ai-parallel-vegans-concerns-about-diet-260277\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENew technologies usually follow the technology adoption life cycle. Innovators and early adopters rush to embrace new technologies, while laggards and skeptics jump in much later.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New technologies usually follow the technology adoption life cycle. Innovators and early adopters rush to embrace new technologies, while laggards and skeptics jump in much later."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-08-04 14:13:24","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 13:12:02","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677556":{"id":"677556","type":"image","title":"Ethical concerns \u2013 like the mistreatment of content creators decried by this protester \u2013 drive both veganism and resistance to using AI. Mario Tama\/Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEthical concerns \u2013 like the mistreatment of content creators decried by this protester \u2013 drive both veganism and resistance to using AI. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/sign-refers-to-a-i-as-striking-sag-aftra-members-and-news-photo\/1739395288\u0022\u003EMario Tama\/Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754318347","gmt_created":"2025-08-04 14:39:07","changed":"1754318347","gmt_changed":"2025-08-04 14:39:07","alt":"Ethical concerns \u2013 like the mistreatment of content creators decried by this protester \u2013 drive both veganism and resistance to using AI. Mario Tama\/Getty Images","file":{"fid":"261467","name":"file-20250722-55-tidvfy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/04\/file-20250722-55-tidvfy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/04\/file-20250722-55-tidvfy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":302034,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/04\/file-20250722-55-tidvfy.jpg?itok=QyOZOg4o"}}},"media_ids":["677556"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/ai-veganism-some-peoples-issues-with-ai-parallel-vegans-concerns-about-diet-260277","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/david-joyner-2424356\u0022\u003EDavid Joyner\u003C\/a\u003E, associate dean and senior research associate, College of Computing,\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}