The massive computer clusters powering artificial intelligence consume vast quantities to answer the world’s queries, but how is Big Tech redressing the balance?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/32023985

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

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    27·
    5 days ago

    You do understand that the more expensive it gets, the less people can afford it, right? That’s basically the same as running out. Sure, you can desalinate the whole ocean if you want to spend the resources on it. No one is suggesting that there will one day literally be no more fresh water within the foreseeable future. That doesn’t really matter to the farmers in developing countries that can’t afford to irrigate their fields and thus can’t feed the people there.

    And then there’s the fact that desalination is a huge environmental disaster.

    https://www.sciencenews.org/article/desalination-pours-more-toxic-brine-ocean-previously-thought

    • BlackLaZoR@fedia.io
      17·
      5 days ago

      the more expensive it gets, the less people can afford it

      You know, all these arguments avoid answering the question about how much more expensive water could be. And I suspect the general answer is: not much. Mass producing fresh water is well understood process. It’s also a potential source of sodium for sodium-ion batteries, cheaper alternative to lithium-ion.

      And then there’s the fact that desalination is a huge environmental disaster.

      I’m fully aware of that - what’s missing there is proper regulation by local governments, preventing excess salinity of water dumped back to the ocean