Tim BrayMar 13

RE: https://cosocial.ca/@evan/115580076628853324

This was posted 4 months ago, i.e. forever in LLM time. I would really like to see a fully-worked through analysis of the actual GHG cost of #GenAI in general and for coding applications specifically. Including, obviously, training, data centre infrastructure, silicon fabrication, etc.

The reason: I have trouble reconciling these numbers with the insane volumes of investment capital going into the space.

Show threadPaul Turnbull has moved.🇨🇦Mar 13

@timbray What is missed in that analysis is that all the emissions from GenAI are new emissions. They aren’t replacing anything. Given the size of the power plants (mostly methane powered) being built to power them they will result in a massive increase in overall carbon emissions.

@evan

Show threadEvan Prodromou
@Chigaze @timbray worldwide? Sure. They might double or triple. As a percentage of total emissions? Still very tiny.
Mar 13 at 7:39pmWeb
Show threadPaul Turnbull has moved.🇨🇦Mar 13

@evan I would question the premise that doubling or tripling our emissions right now is insignificant or even would represent a tiny amount of total emissions over the last 150 years. I'm curious what your numbers are for that.

@timbray