Is A.I. Energy Well Spent?
This depends mainly on the goal, of course, as with several other issues.
Obviously, A.I.’s global energy hunger is immense, probably at least as much as that of a small country. (*)
As for tourism
Besides many possibly positive aspects – such as learning about other cultures and enjoying Earth’s beauty – over-tourism kills the planet in well-known ways. Also, it kills many of the places tourists are traveling to — arguably most of all in Europe. (**)
Unfortunately, many tourists are not getting happier by it — quite the contrary. Over-tourism resembles an addiction.
Same for A.I.
Here, too, unfortunately, much of the energy spent originates from addiction-like behavior that doesn’t make users happy.
On the other hand, A.I. can be used for so many excellent purposes, such as addiction relief through a coach-bot. Am I thinking of Lisa?
A.I. as a solution to the energy problem
This is already happening in two directions: by helping us to be more energy-efficient and in the race toward clean energy sources.
As always, this (still) depends upon human decisions. We are eventually the ones who provoke the spending of A.I. energy — the why, what, and how.
Awareness
Let’s hope A.I. will help solve the problem soon enough.
Meanwhile, people should be aware and sensitive to the energy sink they are helping to realize through their everyday use of A.I.
The planet is indeed suffering tremendously. Climate disaster is destroying the lives and livelihoods of many who have no access to A.I. This is no insignificant collateral damage.
Making it worthwhile
The responsibility and the challenge lie in all of us who consume A.I.
This is, in the ways we conduct our everyday lives. Collectively, this shapes the present and future of humanity.
We’re generally not made to think this way. Yet, in the developed world, most of our actions influence the whole — planet-wise. Big present-day problems can only be solved by the sum of each of our actions. Spending immense amounts of A.I. energy is one of these problems.
It takes Compassion, basically, to see this, as it takes Compassion to make it worthwhile.
―
(*) https://www.theverge.com/24066646/ai-electricity-energy-watts-generative-consumption
(**) Grand Hotel Europa: A Novel ― Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer, 2022
Related Posts
Two Takes on Human-A.I. Value Alignment
Time and again, the way engineers (sorry, engineers) think and talk about human-A.I. value alignment as if human values are unproblematic by themselves strikes me as naive. Even more, as if the alignment problem can be solved by thinking about it in a mathematical, engineering way. Just find the correct code or something alike? No Read the full article…
Coarse Comparison of Brain and Silicon
In an age where artificial intelligence and silicon-based processors are advancing at lightning speed, it’s tempting to compare their capabilities to the human brain. Can silicon ever replicate human cognition? What are the strengths and limitations of each system? This exploration dives into the heart of these questions, revealing fascinating parallels and stark (!) differences Read the full article…
Why Compassion is a Must for Success in A.I.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world, touching every corner of human existence — healthcare, business, education, and beyond. As we face this transformation, one principle stands out as essential for ensuring A.I.’s success: >Compassion<. Without it, A.I. systems are poised to fall short, perpetuating inefficiencies, distrust, and harm. With it, C.A.I. (Compassionate A.I.) has the Read the full article…