this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2025
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Brian Eno: “The biggest problem about AI is not intrinsic to AI. It’s to do with the fact that it’s owned by the same few people” (musictech.com)
submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 33 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

That it's controlled by a few is only a problem if you use it... my issue with it starts before that.

My biggest gripe with AI is the same problem I have with anything crypto: It's out of control power consumption relative to the problem it solves or purpose it serves. And by extension the fact nobody with any kind of real political power is addressing this.

Here we are using recycled bags, banning straws, putting explosive refrigerant in fridges and using led lights in everything, all in the name of the environment, while at the same time in some datacenter they are burning kwh's by the bucket loads generating pictures of cats in space suits.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Here we are using recycled bags, banning straws, putting explosive refrigerant in fridges and using led lights in everything, all in the name of the environment, while at the same time in some datacenter they are burning kwh’s by the bucket loads generating pictures of cats in space suits.

That's, #1, fashion and not about environment, #2, fashion promoted because it's cheaper for the industry.

And yes, power saved somewhere will just be spent elsewhere. Cheaper. Cause that means reduced demand for power (or grown not as fast as otherwise).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Here we are using recycled bags, banning straws, putting explosive refrigerant in fridges and using led lights in everything

lol, sucker. none of that does shit and industry was already destroying the planet just fine before ai came along.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Dare I assume you are aware we have "industry" because we consume?

[–] [email protected] -4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

yes. we are cancer. i live on as little as possible but i don't delude myself into thinking my actions have any effect on the whole.

i spent nearly 20 years not using paper towels until i realized how pointless it was. now i throw my trash out the window. we're all fucked. if we want to change things, there's only one tool that will fix it. until people realize that, i really don't fucking care any more.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

now i throw my trash out the window.

You don't believe not using paper towels was a net positive so now you choose to create and by extention live in a pigsty? I'm not following.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 days ago (2 children)

My biggest gripe with AI is the same problem I have with anything crypto crypto: It's out of control power consumption relative to the problem it solves or purpose it serves.

Don't thrown all crypto under the bus. Only bitcoin and other proof of work protocols are power hungry. 2nd and 3rd generation crypto use mostly proof of stake and ZKrollups for security. Much more energy efficient.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Sure, but despite all the crypto bros assurances to the contrary, the only real-world applications for it is buying drugs, paying ransoms and getting scammed. Which means that any non-zero amount of energy is too much energy.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

I'm aware of this, but it still mostly just something for people speculate on. Something people buy, sit on, and then hopefully sell with a profit.

Bitcoin was supposed to be a decentralized money alternative, but the amount of people actually, legitimately, buying things with crypto are highly negligible. And honestly even if it did serve it's actual purpose, the cumulative power consumption would still be a point of debate.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Yes, most people buy, sit on, and then hopefully sell with a profit.

However, there are a large number of devs building useful things (supply chain, money transfer, digital identity). Most as good as, but not yet better than incumbent solutions.

My main challenge is the energy misconception. The cumulative power of the ethereum network runs on the energy equivalent of a single wind turbine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

And honestly even if it did serve it's actual purpose, the cumulative power consumption would still be a point of debate.

Yeah, but at that point you'd have to consider it against how much power the traditional banking system uses.