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

  • pyre@lemmy.worldEnglish
    151·
    14 hours ago

    it won’t if you don’t force it to. that’s like saying companies will pollute less if you give them enough time. no, you have to grab their balls and force them to do it.

    • XIIIesq@lemmy.worldEnglish
      311·
      13 hours ago

      I think it’s fair to say that pretty much every industry is more efficient and cleaner than it used to be and I don’t see why AI would be an exception to that.

      • frayedpickles@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        41·
        6 hours ago

        And why do you think those improvements happen?

        Is it (a) unchecked capitalism or (b) regulations?

        • XIIIesq@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          48 minutes ago

          Is the insinuation here that the AI industry is unregulated? Because I’m not against regulations that would drive these improvements.

      • pyre@lemmy.worldEnglish
        10·
        12 hours ago

        i think you’re not thinking about what efficiency means for corporations.

        • XIIIesq@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          6 hours ago

          I think it’s exactly what I’m thinking about, unless I’m missing something specific that you’d like to put forward?

          If I own a bottled drinks company and the energy cost is 10p a bottle but a new, more efficient process is invented that would lower my energy cost to 5p a bottle, that’s going to be looking like a wise investment to make. A few pence over several thousand products adds up pretty quickly.

          I could either pocket the difference as extra profit, lower my unit price to the consumer to make my product more competitive in the market, or a bit of both.