Sure, but you could also make the argument that anything based on networked computing is contributing to the spread of data centers. AI is a large part of that today, but it’s not like data centers never existed prior to ChatGPT. Before, it was about trying to convince laypeople to avoid “the cloud”.
Non-AI datacenters aren’t massive fuckoff Complexes that spew pollution (noise and atmospheric) into the surrounding area and triple your electric bill. It’s the massive hyperscale AI datacenters that are the problem.
That’s true, loads of non-AI datacenters are also environmentally destructive noise pollution machines, which also needs to be dealt with, but hyperscale AI datacenters are much more environmentally destructive much more of the time. You’re right tho
Sure, but you could also make the argument that anything based on networked computing is contributing to the spread of data centers. AI is a large part of that today, but it’s not like data centers never existed prior to ChatGPT. Before, it was about trying to convince laypeople to avoid “the cloud”.
Non-AI datacenters aren’t massive fuckoff Complexes that spew pollution (noise and atmospheric) into the surrounding area and triple your electric bill. It’s the massive hyperscale AI datacenters that are the problem.
They still are, and it’s been known and talked about for years. All of these predate the AI boom:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/data-centres-dirty-energy-secret/
https://web.archive.org/web/20120927113253/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/technology/data-centers-waste-vast-amounts-of-energy-belying-industry-image.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20190821212342/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/chandler/2018/04/15/chandler-tech-company-hums-along-and-noise-annoying-residents/504641002/
That’s true, loads of non-AI datacenters are also environmentally destructive noise pollution machines, which also needs to be dealt with, but hyperscale AI datacenters are much more environmentally destructive much more of the time. You’re right tho
Server farms before AI weren’t growimg out of control and spinning up gas yurbines everywhere. That’s the boom and bust of AI training.