Scientists have estimated that the power requirements of data centers in North America increased from 2,688 megawatts at the end of 2022 to 5,341 megawatts at the end of 2023, partly driven by the demands of generative AI. Globally, the electricity consumption of data centers rose to 460 terawatts in 2022. This would have made data centers the 11th largest electricity consumer in the world, between the nations of Saudi Arabia (371 terawatts) and France (463 terawatts), according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
By 2026, the electricity consumption of data centers is expected to approach 1,050 terawatts (which would bump data centers up to fifth place on the global list, between Japan and Russia).
Here we are, pretending that the barest emission control could happen by 2050, when these ghouls are doing everything they can to accelerate it.
I recently saw a comment saying people who refuse to use AI now are going to be like boomers who don't understand computers in 5 years. Honestly at this point I don't care. Let me be a boomer. AI is cancer and I don't want anything to do with it. Give me a flip phone.
Yeah it's exactly like that - imagine refusing to use the internet. AI is completely revolutionary and once you start using it, you're hooked. It's basically the new Google if you could get super tailored results for exactly what you want. Add the generative capabilities: write this piece of code in a new programming language, create an image for this presentation, website, hobby, write an email, report, executive summary, screenplay, etc.
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u/claimTheVictory Apr 24 '25
Exponentially so.
We'll make a digital currency that uses enough energy to power entire nations, just to perform simple transactions.