this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2024

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Google's AI-powered search summaries use 10x more energy than a standard Google search | The Hidden Environmental Impact of AI (jacobin.com)

submitted 4 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] Virkkunen@fedia.io 179 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Don't worry folks, if we all stop using plastic straws and take 30 second showers, we'll be able to offset 5% of the carbon emissions this AI has!

[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (4 children)

Google ghg emissions in 2023 are 14.3 million metric tons. Which are a ridiculous percentage of global emissions.

Commercial aviation emissions are 935.000 million metric tons by year.

So IDK about plastic straws or google. But really if people stopped flying around so much that would actually make a dent on global emissions.

Don't get me wrong, google is a piece of shit. But they are not the ones causing climate change, neither is AI technology. Planes, cars, meat industry, offshore production... Those are some of the truly big culprits.

[–] masquenox@lemmy.world 33 points 4 months ago (1 children)

But they are not the ones causing climate change

The owners of google are capitalists. They are as responsible for climate change as any other capitalist.

[–] NewNewAccount@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Capitalists serve customers and do not operate in a vacuum. This finger pointing does nothing productive.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 27 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Capitalists have captured regulation and to a large extent democracy in the US. So finger pointing towards them is entirely useful. Especially given they spend good money to point the finger at us.

[–] masquenox@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Capitalists ~~serve customers~~ hoard wealth through reckless profiteering irregardless of the costs to the rest of human society and do not operate in a vacuum.

FTFY. I do agree with your last part, though. The political racketeer establishments that enable them and the fascist security institutions that protect them are equally as culpable as they are.

[–] sunzu@kbin.run 0 points 4 months ago

Somebody is hitting a homerun!

Chad

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

i cant afford to ride airplanes. you are welcome.

[–] sunzu@kbin.run 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This person has no personality!

He needs to travel!

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

well pay me for the tickets and i will gladly do more international flights everywhere.

[–] sunzu@kbin.run 0 points 4 months ago

Bro... Most peoples "personalities" revolves around "travel"

Telling them to stop brain dead tourism will not accept! Fuck your climate

[–] PanArab@lemm.ee 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'd rather we give up AI than give up meat or flying. I am not taking a ship half way across the world.

[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

You do you. But other people may have other priorities.

Anyway, how many times have an user to use an AI to even come close to a single commercial plate through the Atlantic? It may be a freaking lot.

You giving away AI, or even forcing all humandkind to do so, might as well do nothing as far as climate change is concerned.

[–] Ibuthyr@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I still believe there are other priorities over one trip every couple of years. Flight is one of the greatest achievements of humanity and I firmly believe it is important to visit other cultures.

[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure about that. I live in a country that is suffering a lot because of tourism. And I'm not very fond of it.

Sometimes I prefer that people would just read our Wikipedia page instead of coming here.

[–] Ibuthyr@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 4 months ago

I gather from your comments that you live in Spain, right? You guys suffer from all the 20€ flights going there from other European countries. At those prices you'll mostly encounter human trash (I know this because I'm from Germany and the the majority of Germans visiting Spain are morons), so I feel with you. These cheap flights need to stop. I'd like to see the kerosene taxed fully for European flights. Have the prices be something to think about.

[–] markon@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's great if you can afford it. If you can afford to fly even a couple times a year you're pretty privileged. I can't, and I'm still privileged.

[–] Ibuthyr@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 4 months ago

I can't either. My wife is a teacher and we have a child. We can't vacation in the off-seasons. We both have great jobs. So if we get to fly, it's something special. And I don't want that taken away to be honest. Using airplanes like taxis however (e.g. Ryan Air)? That's just not a good thing to do to the environment.

[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Sounds like not using Google search would be a way more effective way of reducing CO2