Lots of hype – BT announces that AI could cut even more jobs than the 50000 they had announced. So I have done some homework! Yeah – not much but enough to make me happy (the guy who was happy with D,E,N in his A levels). Firstly, there seems to be a lot to still sort out – National Rail AI advised that under 15 tickets were ok for adults, etc. I am sure that large companies will sort this sort of thing out. Big companies – may also come under attack from cyber crime using AI – M&S have not fully recovered after an attack months ago.
But the real cost is “our Research team estimates that data centres account for 3.5% of US electricity consumption today, and data centre electricity use could be above 5.5% in 2027 and more than 9% by 2030”. With a move to electricity rather than fossil fuels this becomes a huge factor. In a power outage where does the priority lie? Hospitals, houses or AI computers? The latter could be controlling our infrastructure? Governments have a duty to protect the public and this means placing restrictions on big corporations and infrastructure providers.
I omitted the immense use of water for cooling the compters involved in AI. All of which make the Orkneys and Shetland ideal places for the large computers necessary. Cooler temperatures, regular windy days, a tidal rush between islands, and cool water for cooling. Or off the coast of Pembroke. One of the worst places would be Lincolnshire- but the latest plans I have seen are for. ….. of course – presumably on prime farmland too?