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> You know what I’m talking about, even though I’ve not mentioned it. Many comments here assume the "it" means AI. Is that certain though? As in: is there a li

by thih9 2y ago

> You know what I’m talking about, even though I’ve not mentioned it. Many comments here assume the "it" means AI. Is that certain though? As in: is there a line that without doubt would point to AI? In my view this text could just as well be about the iPhone (written 15 years ago and published today). Perhaps this makes "it" even more boring; i.e. that when the process ends with one "it", it starts again with a new one.

unfamiliar 2y ago
Just like a psychological diagnosis is often based on proximity to a cluster of symptoms rather than specific ones that must be met, you can't point to one particular line that makes it AI. It is the combination of all of the sentences that aligns with our perception of AI.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
antonvs 2y ago
"It" could be computing in general. Or American-style ultracapitalism, a phenomenon for which terms like "the control problem" and "alignment" are certainly relevant.
- layer8 2y ago
  “Policy-makers pandering to it.” Do policy-makers pander to computing in general? “People incessantly telling you how they use it.” I don’t think this can be said for American-style ultracapitalism. (Especially for the author who isn’t in the US.)
  - antonvs 2y ago
    > Do policy-makers pander to computing in general? At the current president's inauguration, Zuckerberg, Bezos, Pichai, and Musk were all seated next to each other right behind the president. Their companies have some of the largest computing footprints in the world. Some specific ways they've been pandered to include the repeal of net neutrality and reduction in antitrust activity. > “People incessantly telling you how they use it.” This happens in too many ways to count. A majority of popular media glamorizes and flaunts wealth and what it buys you - like Succession, The Kardashians, Billions, and all the reality shows about wealthy housewives, about real estate agents and house flippers, about an unreflective businessman who likes firing people, and so on. Many ordinary individuals do much the same thing on their instagrams, linkedins, etc. > (Especially for the author who isn’t in the US.) If we're supposed to be able to identify "it" purely by the statements in the post, then where the author is from isn't really relevant. And capitalism in other places may be less extreme than in the US, but many of the same concerns still apply.
lesostep 2y ago
Can't be an iPhone, iPhones don't need plants to power them and lakes to cool them. Could be tech in general though
- Ukv 2y ago
  Average phone allegedly uses 30 kWh per year (charging + data transfer)[0], which in turn uses about 26 gallons of water[1]. Which I feel is well worth it for the value each user gets out, but does start to add up to lakes and power plants worth of water/energy when there are billions of phones. [0]: https://www.bryceenergyservices.com/2024/10/03/the-total-energy-consumption-of-a-mobile-phone/ https://www.bryceenergyservices.com/2024/10/03/the-total-ene... [1]: Using same electricity water intensity as used in https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03271 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03271
layer8 2y ago
“A decommissioned nuclear power station required to power it.” “Not to mention millions of gallons of water required to cool it.” Pretty sure that isn’t an iPhone. ;)
- thih9 2y ago
  This is what I was looking for and I missed - thank you!

by thih9 2y ago

unfamiliar 2y ago

Just like a psychological diagnosis is often based on proximity to a cluster of symptoms rather than specific ones that must be met, you can't point to one particular line that makes it AI. It is the combination of all of the sentences that aligns with our perception of AI.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

antonvs 2y ago

"It" could be computing in general. Or American-style ultracapitalism, a phenomenon for which terms like "the control problem" and "alignment" are certainly relevant.

layer8 2y ago
“Policy-makers pandering to it.” Do policy-makers pander to computing in general? “People incessantly telling you how they use it.” I don’t think this can be said for American-style ultracapitalism. (Especially for the author who isn’t in the US.)
- antonvs 2y ago
  > Do policy-makers pander to computing in general? At the current president's inauguration, Zuckerberg, Bezos, Pichai, and Musk were all seated next to each other right behind the president. Their companies have some of the largest computing footprints in the world. Some specific ways they've been pandered to include the repeal of net neutrality and reduction in antitrust activity. > “People incessantly telling you how they use it.” This happens in too many ways to count. A majority of popular media glamorizes and flaunts wealth and what it buys you - like Succession, The Kardashians, Billions, and all the reality shows about wealthy housewives, about real estate agents and house flippers, about an unreflective businessman who likes firing people, and so on. Many ordinary individuals do much the same thing on their instagrams, linkedins, etc. > (Especially for the author who isn’t in the US.) If we're supposed to be able to identify "it" purely by the statements in the post, then where the author is from isn't really relevant. And capitalism in other places may be less extreme than in the US, but many of the same concerns still apply.

lesostep 2y ago

Can't be an iPhone, iPhones don't need plants to power them and lakes to cool them. Could be tech in general though

Ukv 2y ago
Average phone allegedly uses 30 kWh per year (charging + data transfer)[0], which in turn uses about 26 gallons of water[1]. Which I feel is well worth it for the value each user gets out, but does start to add up to lakes and power plants worth of water/energy when there are billions of phones. [0]: https://www.bryceenergyservices.com/2024/10/03/the-total-energy-consumption-of-a-mobile-phone/ https://www.bryceenergyservices.com/2024/10/03/the-total-ene... [1]: Using same electricity water intensity as used in https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03271 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03271

layer8 2y ago

“A decommissioned nuclear power station required to power it.” “Not to mention millions of gallons of water required to cool it.” Pretty sure that isn’t an iPhone. ;)

thih9 2y ago
This is what I was looking for and I missed - thank you!