Tired of having to navigate endless AI summaries just to find a simple link? Worried about the environmental impacts of all those text-generation prompts? Here are six (mostly free) tools that use fewer resources and encourage good old-fashioned human creativity.
Every time you prompt an AI, you’re dumping out a bottle of water.
That’s the word on the street, anyway.
However, AI’s energy and water usage is more nuanced than this popular idea. Text generation vs. video generation; AI summary vs. standard web browser search- all of these utilize differing amounts of energy and water.
However, those AI summaries do consume more energy than a standard web search, and generating a high-quality video or image consumes even more energy. An AI overview isn’t just retrieving information; it has to generate new text to answer the question, and experts estimate this uses roughly 30% more energy than a simple search.
One prompt or query might not seem like a big deal, but add it all up over time, and these compounding effects matter. And let’s not even get started on the error rate of those AI summaries, which experts estimate sits around 15%.
Here’s the thing: we often don’t need an AI summary to answer every question, or an AI to help us write a simple report. In fact, many people are desperate to have the “old internet” back, one that didn’t seem to have AI incorporated into every single feature.
In that vein, we’ve rounded up non-AI tech alternatives for when you’d like to go down an internet rabbit hole or create something from scratch, just like the good old days. While also having a smaller impact on the environment, of course.
Web Browsers
Ecosia
We’ve already written about Ecosia, actually, because this is the OG environmentally-friendly web browser. Not only can you easily toggle off the AI feature, but Ecosia has extensive reforestation programs; to date, they’ve planted over 250 million trees. They’ve also committed €1 million as part of an initiative to create a Climate Nobel Prize. Check out their incredible rewilding and social impact projects here, and definitely download this web browser.
Vivaldi
Vivaldi is relatively new on the scene, and co-founder Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner has been vocal about their stance on AI: they don’t want any in their browser. While users can actively download or incorporate AI tools if they wish, the web browser intentionally comes without them, embracing the idea of ‘keep the internet human.’ For those longing for the good ol’ days of a simple browser search, Vivaldi is the one for you.
Word Processing
Proton
“What do you want to write today?” is getting a little old. The constant AI chatbots trying to write every single email can feel a bit like you’re being attacked by Clippy. For the days when a great piece of creative writing needs the human touch, try Proton. There’s no AI integrated into it, so no threats from Gemini about ‘refining’ your sentence structure. The Proton Suite is dedicated to privacy (no AI training from your work), and it also allows for collaborative links and sharing.
Design and Photography
Inkscape
Need a break from Canva? (Don’t we all.) Then try out Inkscape, a free open-source vector graphics software that lets you create images, logos, posters, and even your own typography. While the interface is markedly different from Canva, a lot of the same tools are there, though they might require a YouTube tutorial or two to find. However, for those looking to learn more about graphic design, or just stretch the limits of their artistic skills, Inkscape is the way to go.
Procreate
Bad news first: Procreate only works with Apple products and is specifically built for iPad use. However, we wanted to include it on this list because it’s also great on an iPhone, and if you’re looking for a mobile Canva alternative, Procreate is a great option. It’s a powerful design tool, especially for animation, and its user interface is simple and easy to use. They’ve also explicitly stated that the app will remain AI-free, allowing users to explore their creativity without a chatbot. Procreate does require a one-time purchase to download, but compared to subscription models from other programs, it’s pretty wallet-friendly.
The Old Internet
The Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine is for the true internet antiquarian. Those who long for the old days should check out The Wayback Machine. While it isn’t a ‘tool’ per se, it does house an incredible archive of old internet pages, research, books, images, even old software programs. They even have a lending library where users can borrow ebooks in their Open Library. Or dive into their VHS collection and watch endless hours of commercials. It’s a cornucopia of nostalgia. Even the interface feels old-school. Scroll through their archives and get lost in a different internet; hopefully you resurface spouting obscure facts.
