5 ms·

I'm old enough to remember the world without a constant presence of the internet and connectivity. I wonder how much energy these datacenters have actually save

I'm old enough to remember the world without a constant presence of the internet and connectivity. I wonder how much energy these datacenters have actually saved thanks to technologies like google maps, email, online shopping, etc..

jajko 2y ago
The consumption now and in near future will be mostly driven by large AI models, to generate some crazy images, scam some people, and maybe also help individuals and companies a bit. I am not holding my breath on some overall positive effect. In past few years, it has been crypto mining ( maybe not in IR but globally definitely yes), I think we can all agree a pointless emotional fomo endeavor. That online shopping is also debatable, people often order low quality shit they don't really need because its ridiculously cheap. Manufacturing, transport, packaging, not so great for the planet. The days before the internet, I recall them too. Sure, you had to get to the shop, but I had way less clothing and overall everything and I kept it for longer (I am still very much an un-fashionate outlier of modern era but even for me its headed in bad direction).
- SoftTalker 2y ago
  > people often order low quality shit they don't really need because its ridiculously cheap Very much so. Cheap and easy. Just one click. Pure impulse. No thought.
SoftTalker 2y ago
I still get a visit from the mailman in his little truck six days a week. So email has saved nothing there. I get a lot more other deliveries too, but maybe I'm driving less to offset that? Haven't tracked this closely enough to say. Google Maps probably has saved some fuel in that I take fewer wrong turns and don't have to double back quite so often when I'm in an unfamiliar area. Again I just have my own impressions, but GPS tech in general probably is a net win in terms of energy saved.
- Nasrudith 2y ago
  Email saving nothing isn't true at all. The victorians had multiple times a day mail service and newspapers. The mail services previously bemoaned a loss of letters before retail got displaced by online shopping. Remember the concept of the corporate Mail Room? A hungry place that employment could always be found in? The volumes of mail involved were vastly more in the past.

jajko 2y ago

The consumption now and in near future will be mostly driven by large AI models, to generate some crazy images, scam some people, and maybe also help individuals and companies a bit. I am not holding my breath on some overall positive effect. In past few years, it has been crypto mining ( maybe not in IR but globally definitely yes), I think we can all agree a pointless emotional fomo endeavor. That online shopping is also debatable, people often order low quality shit they don't really need because its ridiculously cheap. Manufacturing, transport, packaging, not so great for the planet. The days before the internet, I recall them too. Sure, you had to get to the shop, but I had way less clothing and overall everything and I kept it for longer (I am still very much an un-fashionate outlier of modern era but even for me its headed in bad direction).

SoftTalker 2y ago
> people often order low quality shit they don't really need because its ridiculously cheap Very much so. Cheap and easy. Just one click. Pure impulse. No thought.

SoftTalker 2y ago

I still get a visit from the mailman in his little truck six days a week. So email has saved nothing there. I get a lot more other deliveries too, but maybe I'm driving less to offset that? Haven't tracked this closely enough to say. Google Maps probably has saved some fuel in that I take fewer wrong turns and don't have to double back quite so often when I'm in an unfamiliar area. Again I just have my own impressions, but GPS tech in general probably is a net win in terms of energy saved.

Nasrudith 2y ago
Email saving nothing isn't true at all. The victorians had multiple times a day mail service and newspapers. The mail services previously bemoaned a loss of letters before retail got displaced by online shopping. Remember the concept of the corporate Mail Room? A hungry place that employment could always be found in? The volumes of mail involved were vastly more in the past.