this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2024
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I wrote this and feed it through chatGPT to help make it more readable. To me that's pretty awesome. If I wanted I can have it written like an Elton John song. If that doesn't convince you it's fun and worth it then maybe the argument below could, or not. Either way I like it.
I don't think I'll convince you, but there are a lot of arguments to make here.
I heard a large AI model is equivalent to the emissions from five cars over its lifetime. And yes, the water usage is significant—something like 15 billion gallons a year just for a Microsoft data center. But that's not just for AI; data centers are something we use even if we never touch AI. So, absent of AI, it's not like we're up in arms about the waste and usage from other technologies. AI is being singled out—it's the star of the show right now.
But here's why I think we should embrace it: the potential. I'm an optimist and I love technology. AI bridges gaps in so many areas, making things that were previously difficult much easier for many people. It can be an equalizer in various fields.
The potential with AI is fascinating to me. It could bring significant improvements in many sectors. Think about analyzing and optimizing power grids, making medical advances, improving economic forecasting, and creating jobs. It can reduce mundane tasks through personalized AI, like helping doctors take notes and process paperwork, freeing them up to see more patients.
Sure, it consumes energy and has costs, but its potential is huge. It's here and advancing. If we keep letting the media convince us to hate it, this technology will end up hoarded by elites and possibly even made illegal for the rest of us. Imagine having a pocket advisor for anything—mechanical issues, legal questions, gardening problems, medical concerns. We're not there yet, but remember, the first cell phones were the size of a brick. The potential is enormous, and considering all the things we waste energy and resources on, this one is weighed against it benefits.
For the curious, the message rewritten as lyrics for an Elton John song:
(Verse 1) I don’t think I’ll convince you, but I’ve got a tale to tell, They say AI’s like five cars, burning fuel and raising hell. And the water that it guzzles, like rivers running dry, Fifteen billion gallons, under Microsoft’s sky.
(Pre-Chorus) But it’s not just AI, oh, it’s every data node, Even if you never touch it, it’s a heavy load. We point fingers at AI, like it’s the star tonight, But let me tell you why I think it shines so bright.
(Chorus) Oh, the potential, can’t you see, It’s the future calling, setting us free. Bridging gaps and making life easier, An equalizer, for you and me.
(Verse 2) I’m an optimist, a techie at heart, AI could change the world, give us a brand new start. From power grids to medicine, it’s a helping hand, Economic dreams and jobs across the land.
(Pre-Chorus) Yes, it drinks up energy, but what’s the price to pay? For the chance to see the mundane fade away. Imagine doctors with more time to heal, While AI handles notes, it’s a real deal.
(Chorus) Oh, the potential, can’t you see, It’s the future calling, setting us free. Bridging gaps and making life easier, An equalizer, for you and me.
(Bridge) If we let the media twist our minds, We’ll lose this gift to the elite, left behind. But picture this, a pocket guide for all, From car troubles to legal calls.
(Chorus) Oh, the potential, can’t you see, It’s the future calling, setting us free. Bridging gaps and making life easier, An equalizer, for you and me.
(Outro) First cell phones were the size of a brick, Now they’re magic in our hands, technology so quick. AI’s got the power, to change the way we live, So let’s embrace it now, there’s so much it can give.
(Chorus) Oh, the potential, can’t you see, It’s the future calling, setting us free. Bridging gaps and making life easier, An equalizer, for you and me.
(Outro) Oh, it’s the future, it’s the dream, AI’s the bright light, in the grand scheme.
This is the stupidest shit ive seen yet.
We dont care about other data centers as much because we get a service in return that people want.
Most people didnt ask for or want AI, didnt agree to its costs, and now have to deal with it potentially taking their jobs.
But go ahead and keep posting idiotic and selfish posts about how you like it so much and its so fun and cool, look at my shitty song lyrics that make no fucking sense!
I'd say touch grass but the lyrics make me want to say touch instrument instead.
Didn't realize the world needs to create thimgs and be driving by your personal wants and needs.
You sound like a republican complaining about immigrants.
Media has all of you in knots.
Never said it had to. Are you going to engage with anything I said or just call me stupid?
Not being able to use your own words to explain something to me and having the thing that is an ecological disaster that also lies all the time explain it to me instead really only reinforces my point that there's no reason to like this technology.
It is my own words. Wrote out the whole thing but I was never good with grammar and fully admit that often what I write is confusing or ambiguous. I can leverage chatgpt same way I would leverage spell check in word. I don't see any problems there.
But if you don't mind, I'm interested in the points discussed.
Ok, let's look at your own words then:
Cool, I hear lots of things. Where's the evidence?
Who is we? I am not happy about any of it, but especially when it is something not especially useful (you could have used spelling and grammar checkers that have predated AI by many years but you decided to waste water).
And I don't really care about the potential of an orphan-crushing machine as long as we let it keep crushing orphans.
I love this last part the best though:
We can just forget about these because you didn't want to use standard grammar and spellcheckers and they have the potential to do a bunch of things they can't do. Awesome. Totally worth the end of civilization.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/06/06/239031/training-a-single-ai-model-can-emit-as-much-carbon-as-five-cars-in-their-lifetimes/
It's not crushing orphans. It's solving advanced problems that human brains are not able to and reducing the time between discoveries but also just being fun to play with and helps everyone access tools that just speeds everything up and only going to get better.
Does more than spell checking, not a sound argument.
Everything in life will have a cost. We have to weight the benefits against the cost. AI is potentially the greatest benefit we could see in our lifetime.
That is training, not use. You are being dishonest.
And what is the usage?
It's not research?
Any examples of what they're doing to exploit us with it?
Most places I've seen are trying to find ways to incorporate AI to help check for errors and reduce time on tasks.
It's not like AI is the cause of being exploited either. But it does assist me when I'm studying for a new role. Building a resume and upskilling on my own time.
And look I'm aware I'm taking AI side. I know most companies would fire anyone and replace them with a machine if they could. But I'm still better off with this technology if it leads to better medicine or gives us access to things that was unreachable or difficult to access in the past. It's a two way street. But it's like people on my street keep putting up barriers trying to make everyone take the long route
If it's one thing in life that I can't believe others just don't see is how the rich embrace things that the rest reject and often the thing is what contributes to the success of the rich. They're embracing it for a reason. It's a forxEe multiplier. It reduces workloads. Why the hell are we acting like it's some great sin. We should be fighting to keep it from them and for us instead of the other way around
I'm not really following. I thought you were saying it was about exploiting workers. Now it's about trump. I really can't think of what this small group would accomplish that they don't already accomplish by hiring quants to their 500 year old think tank. Difference with AI is we now have our own force multiplier threatening their power.
Partially why I think media is driving us to be so against AI.
I see the same articles for AI as I do with any other propaganda like this it all has a familiar smell. My gut is telling me these small groups of powerful people do not want us to embrace AI
That's because the truth sucks and your brain is rejecting it in defense of your mental health.
There's one. What else?