Post AZh0mQdCB9KfwM3f8a by Kapirsnick@mastodon.xyz
 (DIR) More posts by Kapirsnick@mastodon.xyz
 (DIR) Post #AZgv6ZBxScSCYcXNVA by tante@tldr.nettime.org
       2023-09-12T12:43:51Z
       
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       A key aspect of the currently debated paper on "AI" models' water usage is in the last paragraphs:Data centers were pushed to "follow the sun" in order to reduce carbon emissions by harnessing (cheap) solar energy. Cool!But locations with a lot of sun often get very hot during the warmer months requiring a lot of water to cool them.So by trying to emit less carbon (and because solar power is very cheap of course, it's not to be nice) companies are contributing to the aridification of the regions they moved to."AI" (and to a lesser degree all digital infrastructure) has massive impact on the environment. It's not an ethereal thing that we can decouple from our other activities.
       
 (DIR) Post #AZgwI2YSjJxMlT6ATI by pettter@mastodon.acc.umu.se
       2023-09-12T12:56:10Z
       
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       @tante Turns out Turns out using electricity in computers generates heat. Who knew!This clearly isn't a technological problem, but it gets me thinking about ways to radiate heat efficiently while raising the local temperature minimally, and I'm wondering if direct radiation towards space is actually a thing. I'm guessing this would be mostly applicable in places like deserts, where you could conceivably generate a bunch of power in the day and then use and radiate at night.
       
 (DIR) Post #AZh0mQdCB9KfwM3f8a by Kapirsnick@mastodon.xyz
       2023-09-12T13:47:06Z
       
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       @tante As if water was the best way to cool something... Ever used a fridge?