@Crell Thank you for quantifying the various aspects that it takes to keep AI running. It’s one of those details that is becoming increasingly apparent, but difficult to grasp the scope.

Would you care to elaborate on the “This is how societies die.” comment? Is that primarily in the sense of social apathy? In the lack of respect for others/foresight over long term consequences? The disruptive tactics of numerous tech companies that have eliminated many norms? Or something else?

@wwhitlow All of the above.

Major empires aren't destroyed from without, but by their own greed, infighting, and incompetence.

In this case, the "it is what it is" attitude is unworthy of someone in a democracy. That's how the billionaires and pedo-fascists were able to take over.

Then add short-sightedness about global warming for the last 50 years, and AI is just the latest part of it. That will kill us all. "It is what it is."

@Crell @wwhitlow AI sometimes reminds me of lead.

The ancient Romans knew it was poisonous, especially in anything that touched food or drink. Yet they used it in their aqueducts anyway. Cheap, easy to mine (= comfortable to access), so no one cared about the consequences.

Sure, lead was not the only cause of Rome’s collapse or the thousand years of barbarism that followed. But cognitively impairing entire urban populations surely took its toll on political competence. 🤷