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We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard.
(www.technologyreview.com)
this post was submitted on 21 May 2025
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How does crypto mining play into all of the electrical need? I know they used to use a butt load.
I found this article from last year: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61364
The wide range should not be too surprising, it's a mess to keep track of, especially with the current administration. Since then, with Trump immediately pledging to support the "industry", I can only imagine it consuming even more now.
That's a huge amount of electricity even at it's lowest. Are they building the AI to crypto mine is also another question. I could see these sneaky bastards combining the two somehow.
As for OpenAI and Microsoft, they're betting on energy with a company called Helion Energy. They say they'll have it ready by 2028. Whether they'll achieve that? We'll see.
I looked that up and it's a fusion reactor, apparently, from what I can figure out from their nigh-illegible website.
...[reads further] ...
It skips the steam cycle. That's fucking cool. I really hope they get it working.
They won't.
Care to elaborate?
there's lots of handwavy things. They even said they "discovered new physics" to explain some disappointing (perfectly predictable, by other established nuclear physicists) results. "Oh the physics equation was wrong, we just need to make everything 25% bigger".
Also, the emitted radiation levels will be insane once it's scaled up
No.
I don't see how AI helps with crypto mining. It could help with pump and dumping shit coins though.
I was thinking how it probably helps by getting into nanoseconds with buying and selling stocks. I have found that there are very few coincidences with huge technologies, tons of cash pouring in and dark money. I could be wrong though.
I see you don't know how crypto works lol
It should be clarified that it's 99.99% Bitcoin mining that's wasting all that energy, any other crypto that still uses mining is basically irrelevant when compared to it