Watch now | Examining AI's true environmental impact, the 'stochastic parrot' debate, effective altruism, technological determinism, and all the ways we need the AI conversation to improve.
Very interesting conversation. But the aspect of it that amazes me most is that how much alien these discussions are to my daily in-person conversations. I haven't heard about negative environmental impacts of AI in my work with university students, whereas a lot of them have told me about using it as a companion or friend or therapist. I am wondering whether it is because many of my encounters are with international students or whatever other selection bias is in work
That’s interesting. Most of my encounters with the university students I teach are similar to yours, actually, but I’ve also encountered certain communities (among students, academics, journalists, commentators) who really hate AI and raise these environmental concerns. It would be interesting to explore how widespread or representative they are. I’m really not sure.
David MacKay's book is great but the numbers are now a bit dated - Hannah Ritchie (who is also a fan of MacKay) wrote an article with some updated figures from a more recent paper:
"And I was like, well, I guess I would just start hammering out deep research prompts and video stuff." ...Really?? .. could you cut this repetitive rave by about 80% and speak clearly.
We know all about "effective virtue" & its implications - via Mr Bankman-Fried's exploits, not to mention the awful Mr Singer.
Very interesting conversation. But the aspect of it that amazes me most is that how much alien these discussions are to my daily in-person conversations. I haven't heard about negative environmental impacts of AI in my work with university students, whereas a lot of them have told me about using it as a companion or friend or therapist. I am wondering whether it is because many of my encounters are with international students or whatever other selection bias is in work
That’s interesting. Most of my encounters with the university students I teach are similar to yours, actually, but I’ve also encountered certain communities (among students, academics, journalists, commentators) who really hate AI and raise these environmental concerns. It would be interesting to explore how widespread or representative they are. I’m really not sure.
David MacKay's book is great but the numbers are now a bit dated - Hannah Ritchie (who is also a fan of MacKay) wrote an article with some updated figures from a more recent paper:
https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/can-solar-and-wind-power-britain
Thanks for this!
>why so much discourse surrounding AI is so tribal and bad
I'm curious if you think there is any discourse about any topic that isn't tribal and bad.
I'm not trying to "both siderism" but I'm truly curious as to anywhere there isn't just horrible screaming takes.
"And I was like, well, I guess I would just start hammering out deep research prompts and video stuff." ...Really?? .. could you cut this repetitive rave by about 80% and speak clearly.
We know all about "effective virtue" & its implications - via Mr Bankman-Fried's exploits, not to mention the awful Mr Singer.