This might belong in some circlejerk sub, but I think it’s somewhat clever. Basically, if AI datacenters get shut down, the power that would’ve been used to generate AI slop could be used for magnificent things. I mean, it’s purely clean energy because instead of using gas or oil, you take energy that COULD be used for something useless and put it to better use. Think of all the applications.
- We could power countless electric cars, trains, and bikes.
- We could power countless medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators.
- We could power countless lights in people’s homes.
All this could be accomplished by not building massive datacenters. What’s more is that there could be countless gallons of clean drinking water used for surgical cleaning and chemistry that would otherwise serve to cool the amount of datacenter power. Think of all the possibilities!
If only Sam Altman could understand this…!
It has all the same practical effects as creating new power, so “not doing something” actually is the same as a “power source.” It has everything to do with what you said.
Mathematically, sure, but in real world terms no. For example you can’t go to a developing country and set up not-using-AI power plants. Even if we assume that’s the case, though, supply and demand also entails that reduced demand will lead to reduced supply, so the implication by the OP that this newly available power will just flood the market and be used for whatever as free energy is false; the only thing that would happen is, at best, somewhat lower electricity prices.
If those countries were using AI then not using it would effectively create power. The same would be true if you went there, built the power plants, used it for AI, and then shut the AI down.