The massive computer clusters powering artificial intelligence consume vast quantities to answer the world’s queries, but how is Big Tech redressing the balance?

Writing a 100-word email using ChatGPT (GPT-4, latest model) consumes 1 x 500ml bottle of water It uses 140Wh of energy, enough for 7 full charges of an iPhone Pro Max

  • frunch@lemmy.worldEnglish
    535·
    4 days ago

    I’m sure I’m missing out, but i have no interest in using chatbots and other LLMs etc. It floors me to see how much attention they get though, how much resources are being dumped into their development and use. Nuclear plants being reopened for the sake of AI?!!

    I also assume there’s a lot of things they’re capable of that could be huge for science, and there’s likely lots of big things happening behind closed doors that we’re yet to see in the coming years. I know it’s not all just chatbots.

    The way this article strikes me though, is that it’s pretty much just wasting resources for parlor-game level output. I don’t know if i like the idea of people giving up their ability to write a basic letter or essay, not that my opinion on the matter is gonna change anything obviously 😅

    • just_another_person@lemmy.worldEnglish
      286·
      4 days ago

      Think of it like this: rich people accumulate more wealth by paying fewer people to accomplish more work faster, so it’s worth burning through the worlds resources at breakneck speed to help the richies out, right?

    • DarkCloud@lemmy.worldEnglish
      412·
      3 days ago

      Nuclear plants being reopened for the sake of AI?!!

      Do you have ANY evidence this is happening?

      • NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.worldEnglish
        122·
        3 days ago

        Oh, come on… it’s everywhere in the news for several months now, because all of the Big Techs suddenly (!) want to do that.

        • DarkCloud@lemmy.worldEnglish
          31·
          3 days ago

          We live in a techno feudalism, it’s not a democracy, it’s no longer Capitalism. It’s Capitalism almost completely mediated through elite technocrats. The only freedom we have, the only potential for regaining control, is boycotting via massive, well organized, well understood, well conducted unsubscription programs, and campaigns. Lightening fast protest statements where we control who we fund, which services we use, and which we deny and defund by taking our usage data away (and their services away from us which takes discipline). Denying them data to sell, and profits/subscriptions.

          This is the future politics we have to start discussing with others, the idea we have to spread, as it’s currently the only way to have a say within this current state of techno feudalism.

          If we don’t we will end up in subscription model nations, living as slaves, with end user agreements, rather than human rights.