this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
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Just... Don't use AI?
That's like a crypto miner saying their mining is ok and doesn't waste energy because it comes from hydro electricity, well, no, the issue is using energy for that in the first place.
No matter the source, you're putting a huge load on the grid compared to the output and that energy would be better spent elsewhere. Hydro is green in the sense that there's very little emissions while it's produced, getting to the point where you produce it releases a shit ton of emissions and the more people use it for useless shit, the more dams we need to build, the more land we need to flood, the more trees will decompose under water, the more damage we need to do to ecosystems, the bigger the impact on biodiversity.
With that argument, we should all stop using microwaves, computers, ovens, dryers, electric cars, etc.
Everything related to technology or that uses power.
Are you comparing the use of things that helps take care of essential needs to the use of AI?
As for cars, the environmental impact is lower compared to gas cars so the comparison doesn't make sense.
"AI" is for the most part a waste of energy to regurgitate information that is very likely incorrect and that people could easily find by using much less energy by using the tools that already exist. They're just language models trained on so much information that it makes them unreliable.
Their usefulness compared to ovens... Well, there's just no comparison really.
AI proponents are the same as crypto fanatics during the last boom, people who are so hyped that they can't think about it critically.
Just because you don't use AI or can't understand its usefulness doesn't mean that it's useless.
I've been using AI every day for about 2 years now for various purposes.
If we're going to use and need electricity for everything including cars, computers, AI, ovens, microwaves, etc. and cut everything related to gas,
Maybe the solution is actually getting and using more electricity more efficiently.
And using it for AI when we have basic needs that still rely fossil fuel isn't using it efficiently.
Mind blown, right?
Evolution isn't going to wait that everyone is using electricity instead of fossil fuel.
If basic needs are still using fossil fuel, get up to date.
Would help if people stopped using renewable for useless stuff so we could use it for essentials instead of having to build new renewable infrastructure in order to provide energy for both.
You must also be a crypto mining apologist, right?
No, I'm not.
That being said, I'm quite fortunate. I live in Quebec, Canada where most power comes from hydro and is quite cheap.
I use AI on my own computer and everything that I own uses electricity, except my car. I personally pay for every bit of power that I use.
I also care for environment. Yes, I do have a gasoline car but I prioritize walking and my ebike whenever that I can and within the reasonable.
See, you're exactly the kind of person I'm talking about. Hydro Quebec will have to invest a fortune to create more infrastructure because of people like you. Our population is wasting about 25TWh at the moment and instead of pushing people to be fucking responsible with their energy usage, HQ will have to reduce their royalties to the government (that are used to pay for services to the population) in order to invest in the creation of wind turbine parks and guess what, that means we'll have to pay more taxes or everyone's hydro bill will increase to compensate for the little shits like you and there will be a huge environmental impact because contrary to what you morons believe we don't just pull the materials necessary to build wind turbines out of our ass.
So you wasting energy on that crap will have a direct impact on my own wallet so fuck you. You don't give a fucking crap about the environment, stop pretending you do.
First, I use Hydro Sherbrooke.
Second, I spend a total of around 30$ each month in electricity. Probably not as bad as you think.
Third, I work in tech and AI is an obvious part of my work.
Fourth, if my energy consumption triggers you that much, get a life bro.
Hydro Sherbrooke can only sell at the same rate as Hydro Quebec, doesn't make a difference what provider you use.