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Heh, if you think that's bad, we're going to hit peak oil extraction ability next year. After that, it will get gradually more and more expensive every year to

Heh, if you think that's bad, we're going to hit peak oil extraction ability next year. After that, it will get gradually more and more expensive every year to extract a gallon of oil. The implications of this are huge, and the most likely result (unless we can all cooperate) is energy cannibalization. AI couldn't happen at a worse time in history.

bayindirh 2y ago
> AI couldn't happen at a worse time in history. Shh... Murphy might hear.
infecto 2y ago
How long have we been saying that?
melling 2y ago
We don’t use much oil to generate electricity. Natural gas and coal are the main sources. Of course coal produces the most greenhouse emissions.
- kstenerud 2y ago
  We use oil for every modern thing we make, and to power our machinery. As AI begins to express its true hunger, we'll start feeding it from any source we can, including oil and its byproducts. This will exacerbate the oil problem, and accelerate the point where it takes more energy to extract oil than we get from it. From there, things get bad. Real bad.
  - melling 2y ago
    Electricity is used to power AI. The $20 billion chip fabs use electricity. Can you explain where the need for the increase in oil is coming from? We are specifically discussing AI.
    - kstenerud 2y ago
      It will come when our existing generators of electricity are no longer enough to keep up with demand. First, we'll move industries that can be served by both electricity and oil to oil only, and then we'll look to firing up new plants to generate the electricity to meet the rising demand, which will far outstrip the demand we have now. It's a second order effect, but a powerful one.
      - melling 2y ago
        Natural gas is much cheaper than oil so we will use natural gas to generate electricity
boristsr 2y ago
I've been hearing peak oil is happening "next year" for at least 20 years. There's plenty of reasons to clean up our energy supply, but this is the weakest of all the reasons.
- kstenerud 2y ago
  Not peak oil; peak oil EXTRACTION. Big difference. There's still plenty of oil out there and will be for a long time. The issue is how much energy it takes to extract it.
EForEndeavour 2y ago
Where could I read more about the distinction between peak oil extraction and production, and the prediction you mention of peak oil extraction next year?

bayindirh 2y ago

> AI couldn't happen at a worse time in history. Shh... Murphy might hear.

infecto 2y ago

How long have we been saying that?

melling 2y ago

We don’t use much oil to generate electricity. Natural gas and coal are the main sources. Of course coal produces the most greenhouse emissions.

kstenerud 2y ago
We use oil for every modern thing we make, and to power our machinery. As AI begins to express its true hunger, we'll start feeding it from any source we can, including oil and its byproducts. This will exacerbate the oil problem, and accelerate the point where it takes more energy to extract oil than we get from it. From there, things get bad. Real bad.
- melling 2y ago
  Electricity is used to power AI. The $20 billion chip fabs use electricity. Can you explain where the need for the increase in oil is coming from? We are specifically discussing AI.
  - kstenerud 2y ago
    It will come when our existing generators of electricity are no longer enough to keep up with demand. First, we'll move industries that can be served by both electricity and oil to oil only, and then we'll look to firing up new plants to generate the electricity to meet the rising demand, which will far outstrip the demand we have now. It's a second order effect, but a powerful one.
    - melling 2y ago
      Natural gas is much cheaper than oil so we will use natural gas to generate electricity

boristsr 2y ago

I've been hearing peak oil is happening "next year" for at least 20 years. There's plenty of reasons to clean up our energy supply, but this is the weakest of all the reasons.

kstenerud 2y ago
Not peak oil; peak oil EXTRACTION. Big difference. There's still plenty of oil out there and will be for a long time. The issue is how much energy it takes to extract it.

EForEndeavour 2y ago

Where could I read more about the distinction between peak oil extraction and production, and the prediction you mention of peak oil extraction next year?