There are legitimate and worthwhile applications for machine learning in research and data science. Chatbots and image generators aren’t it. But it is these consumer-level products, fueling the massive proliferation of “AI”, which are creating the greatest threat to human labor and Earth resources.
The AI boom requires massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of water and energy. Tech CEOs have plans for hundreds more hyperscale facilities in the coming years, but activists around the world are fighting back and forcing us to ask who really benefits from Silicon Valley’s future.
Silicon Valley believes more computation is essential for progress. But they ignore the resource burden and don’t care if the benefits materialize.
Like, I don't know how anybody can see something like this as anything other than the reddest of red flags. Altman here is saying out loud that the AI future they're *currently building* is going to require energy and climate solutions that we simply don't have.
OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday said an energy breakthrough is necessary for future artificial intelligence, which will consume vastly more power than people have expected.