Community Chat

[Oznell]

Surprisingly, some aspects of AI seem still a bit rough around the edges, in its ability to give accurate, up-to-the-minute information.  But have no doubt that that will continue to be refined. I can't possibly hope to understand all the implications... 

[monicakm]

Wait, what @Snowpuppy 

why would one's electricity bill triple?

So far, I haven't been interested in a monthly

fee for using a version of Google's "Gemini for

Home".  It's $100/yr.  But it's part of Google Nest's

feature for monitoring our Google cameras.  We

had a year of that but didn't renew.

[monicakm]

It's still in it's infancy @Oznell.  It's still making mistakes.

It will improve with time.  I use Google in my home for all my smart devices and it works great.  I'm reading that's not the case with Gemini and once you upgrade, you can't go back.  People have figured out how to "down grade" back to Google but it's a hassle I'm not interested in doing.

[deepwaterdotter]

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@Oznell wrote:

Surprisingly, some aspects of AI seem still a bit rough around the edges, in its ability to give accurate, up-to-the-minute information.  But have no doubt that that will continue to be refined. I can't possibly hope to understand all the implications... 

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Same for me.  I'll stick with the human contact in my life for now.

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

Artificial Intelligence data centers are huge consumers of electricity. 

A study by MIT shows that nearly 5% of electricity generated in the US currently goes to these centers as the servers, hardware and cooling system needs are enormous.   The demand will likely triple in 2-3 years.  Every query, every response spins the wheel and consumes  the limited juice.

There are virtually no new generating units under construction right now for a variety of reasons, so the growing demand for power will increase electricity rates for all consumers until adequate generation comes online.

AI comes at a great cost in many ways.

[willowbark]

That's why the tech bro's are exploring new options. It's Microsoft I believe that want to reopen 3 Mile Island and the others want to build mini nuclear reactors because they take less time,

Also in the works sending up satellites that use the sun as energy for these data centers, 

Where there's a will there is a way and the only reason is because China will get ahead in this area if not already.  

edited for typo

[Snowpuppy]

TX has more future data center contracts underway than any other state in the US. Texas is not connected to the rest of the US power grid. 

That said, data centers require enormous amounts of electricity to run and fresh water to cool. Not to mention power lines that need to be strung. We don't have the capacity in the US. 

Somebody gotta pay for all of those upgrades. People in parts of Maryland already seeing their power bills triple. There are maps online that show projected areas where utility costs are going to soar.

No doubt once you upgrade, you can't go back. They want you as a paying customer for life.

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

The water usage needs are enormous.

Water bills are soaring in these areas.

[Sunshine Kate]

We don't need AI for anything.  The longer I live the more I long for living back in the 60's, 70"s, etc.

Never knew how good I had it, nice memories.

[willowbark]

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@Sunshine Kate wrote:

We don't need AI for anything.  The longer I live the more I long for living back in the 60's, 70"s, etc.

Never knew how good I had it, nice memories.

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AI is needed in medicine. To find cures for diseases, to develop new medicines that are more affective than what we currently have and without the side affects and vaccines such as the flu where they will once and for all be able to develop ones that acutally prevent the flu and are 100% accurate.