Shruti Haasan has thrown her weight behind Kamal Haasan’s urgent call to rethink casual AI use, warning that every trivial ChatGPT query carries a hidden environmental cost. A viral clip from a Tamil Nadu college fest shows Kamal urging students to talk to friends before turning to AI, invoking the image of water wasted for each question.
The message hits at a growing tension: convenience versus responsibility. As the clip spread, so did a debate on how everyday habits shape the energy and water footprint of large AI systems. Shruti amplified the plea, turning a campus moment into a wider conversation.
Students urged to rethink everyday queries
Addressing students at the Nayagan Fest, Kamal did not mince words on AI’s resource demands. He said, “Now, when you use AI, more electricity is generated for it to process. Remember that every time you ask a question, a tumbler of water is wasted. Every time you use ChatGPT, it uses water. The more questions you ask it, the more water you waste.”
His point spotlighted the operational reality behind AI: data centres consume power and need cooling. Experts generally note that these systems use energy and water, with the amount varying by infrastructure and task. Kamal’s emphasis was simple but forceful – be mindful.
Shruti Haasan signals clear support
Soon after the clip circulated, Shruti reposted it on Instagram Stories with a 100 emoji, making her endorsement clear. She also shared a post titled, ‘The truth about AI’s water use might surprise you,’ which compared AI’s water use with farming, and another video celebrating human skill over AI.
Kamal’s message to students was straightforward:
– Use AI only when truly needed
– Ask friends before asking a chatbot
– Have the courage to say ‘I don’t know’
A caution, not a ban on AI
Kamal’s stance is not anti-technology. In 2024, he travelled to the United States to enrol in a 90-day AI programme, though work meant he completed only part of it. He has previously called AI a technology “beyond all of us” and advised against using it without proper understanding.
He has also been clear that AI should not be treated as an enemy. “AI will be there in your life, my life and everyone else’s… We should not feel threatened by AI.” His latest remarks align with that view: embrace progress, but protect curiosity, critical thinking and human connection.
Why human conversations are part of the solution
Kamal urged students to rebuild habits around people, not prompts. “Ask only the necessary questions. Otherwise, ask the friend next door. There are probably a few people who know more than it does. You shouldn’t think that I am the only one talking. I am not ChatGPT, I don’t know everything. I have the courage to say I don’t know.”
The appeal struck a chord on campus, drawing applause and online praise. The core takeaway: technology can inform, but communities and conversations also carry knowledge.
What comes next for Kamal and Shruti
On the work front, Kamal Haasan was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life. He will next be seen in a film with Rajinikanth, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, besides another project with action director duo Anbariv.
Shruti Haasan was recently seen in Coolie and a special appearance in Peddi. She also has Aakasamlo Oka Tara and Train in the pipeline, even as she champions a balanced approach to technology.
The father-daughter signal is clear: use AI, but not at the cost of common sense or scarce resources. Their call to talk more and type less could be the small, practical shift that keeps our digital habits sustainable.
