Eric Schmidt: ‘We’re not going to hit the climate goals. I’d rather bet on AI solving the problem.’ With "alien intelligence"! (pivot-to-ai.com)
from jherazob@beehaw.org to technology@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 16:33
https://beehaw.org/post/16434786

cross-posted from: awful.systems/post/2556883

#technology

threaded - newest

NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz on 07 Oct 2024 17:02 next collapse

The schmuck doesn’t even know what AI stands for.

DavidGarcia@feddit.nl on 07 Oct 2024 17:10 collapse

it ends on “insertion”

Kichae@lemmy.ca on 07 Oct 2024 17:41 next collapse

Why advocate for trying to stop climate disaster when you can choose to believe that you can both profit off of it and be the hero that saves humanity from it, both at the same time?

lily33@lemm.ee on 07 Oct 2024 18:01 next collapse

If we wait for AI to be advanced enough to solve the problem and don’t do anything in the meantime, when the time finally comes, the AI will (then, rightfully) determine that there’s only one way to solve it…

Fermion@feddit.nl on 07 Oct 2024 20:43 collapse

Natural Intelligence has already proposed solutions. The real lie is in expecting us to believe that decision makers would be any more likely to act on the solutions that AI comes up with.

bl4kers@beehaw.org on 08 Oct 2024 08:38 collapse

That’s exactly right. Even if we made an AI that could give us the perfect solution and had accurate projections to back up its assertions, inevitably we’d reject it because we wouldn’t trust it fully. It cannot fix the often selfish nature of humans

Midnitte@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 18:14 next collapse

Considering the staggering cost of AI models, waiting until AI solves the problem is going to do nothing but prove the Great Filter hypothesis.

storksforlegs@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 19:14 next collapse

Imagine someone like him acting like ‘coming up with solutions’ is the problem. Infuriating ghouls.

DdCno1@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 19:22 next collapse

I think we should start with AI CEOs first. Watch how quickly these tech bros become AI skeptics when you suggest this.

Eryn6844@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 19:32 next collapse

what an idiot

Chuymatt@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 20:24 collapse

No. He is smart.

But ‘fool’? Now, that fits.

regul@lemm.ee on 07 Oct 2024 19:52 next collapse

What solution is AI going to come up with other than “stop burning fossil fuels”? We already know the solution to climate change. Acting like we don’t is absurd.

I think a good first step in meeting climate goals would be eating Eric Schmidt.

masterofn001@lemmy.ca on 07 Oct 2024 21:35 next collapse

The solution to humanity’s climate change problem is to eliminate humans.

~ AI

desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Oct 2024 03:21 next collapse

block the sun is also a method to reduce global warming.

teawrecks@sopuli.xyz on 08 Oct 2024 05:21 next collapse

You’re only technically correct

desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Oct 2024 05:36 collapse

so you agree that it would work

teawrecks@sopuli.xyz on 08 Oct 2024 15:27 collapse

Well yeah, no sun no problem! What could go wrong?

pbjamm@beehaw.org on 09 Oct 2024 14:59 collapse

Mr Burns approves

teawrecks@sopuli.xyz on 08 Oct 2024 05:20 next collapse

If we can’t get the solution implemented, then it’s not a solution.

princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Oct 2024 08:28 collapse

So what you’re saying is that it is indeed time to move on to eating the rich?

teawrecks@sopuli.xyz on 08 Oct 2024 15:30 collapse

Wealth inequality is a huge problem that needs to be addressed. And so is reducing complex systemic issues to catchy reductive memes.

princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Oct 2024 15:34 collapse

Rich coming from someone who says we should, just, continue burning fossil fuels because it’s been hard to stop. If you want a serious discussion, offer serious solutions.

teawrecks@sopuli.xyz on 09 Oct 2024 05:15 collapse

You know I didn’t say that, but the sad part is I do believe you think the world is a simple dichotomy of rich vs poor.

Oh well, I’ll take it over the other false dichotomies. I like your energy kid, but you’re going to have to get smarter if you want to see change in the world, for all of our sakes. Your current strategy ain’t gonna cut it.

princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 09 Oct 2024 05:25 collapse

Please, enlighten me then, what did you mean by your initial comment?

Kid? I’m willing to bet I’m older than you.

teawrecks@sopuli.xyz on 09 Oct 2024 16:04 collapse

I intended for you to think about it, and if you disagree, offer a thought out response. There’s still time for that, just scroll back up.

I’m willing to bet I’m older than you.

Given your responses so far, it’s much less embarrassing for you to say you’re either 15 or a troll bot.

Regarding the state of the climate, human kind is an ant hill, a game of factorio, a manufacturing pipeline. We’re in a race to generate enough energy to escape the grave of our own making that started over a hundred years before any of us were born. We’ve already crossed the threshold where, if we stopped emitting any greenhouse gasses whatsoever, we will still see a massive population decline due to heat, weather, food shortage, etc, most in poorer countries who are neither responsible for the problem, nor capable if dealing with it.

Our best bet to save as many lives as possible is to continue research into cutting edge power generation, food production, clean water generation, and sustainable and durable housing/cooling technologies.

The strategy of telling the wealthy to stop consuming energy cold turkey is no longer a viable strategy, as it’s not beneficial for anyone. It’s also not practical unless you’re a fictional, superhuman character who can zip around and force humankind to your benevolent will (or you have globally powerful military and are willing to enact martial law, but good luck).

To win the race, to reduce the ensuing death and destruction and minimize unnecessary casualties to the human (and other) species, we need to put as much research as possible into new renewable tech (solar, wind, water, nuclear, and fusion if possible). It’s unclear what AI has to offer, but it is already being used to solve manufacturing challenges that neither a single human capable of, nor a group of humans can effectively abstract and communicate about. If this can be leveraged to develop new sustainable energy or bioengineering solutions that were never before known to be possible, that is how we save the most lives.

What doesn’t save any lives is rallying behind the same absolutist strategy we’ve tried for over 50 years and making no progress. But I get it, memes travel further and faster than measured thought. That’s also a problem for us.

averyminya@beehaw.org on 08 Oct 2024 08:46 collapse

It can only be hoping for some alien technology that we haven’t found out with modern research will be discovered. Like an extreme version of carbon recapture that hasn’t been thought of.

Except somehow derived from literature, images, and the internet as points of data.

How? Well, I’m sure the AI will tell us… right?

jasoncg@programming.dev on 07 Oct 2024 19:59 next collapse

"Yes, the planet got destroyed. But for a beautiful moment in time we created a lot of value for shareholders!"

  • Eric Schmidt, probably
Spacehooks@reddthat.com on 08 Oct 2024 12:02 collapse

IRL Ted faro energy. Bet he will betray humanity again somehow to ease his conscious.

lvxferre@mander.xyz on 07 Oct 2024 20:00 next collapse

Or alternatively fine (yes, fine; not just “tax”) heavy energy sinks, to the point that they’re unable to run, and use the money to address climatic issues now.

But it’s easier to wallow in a mix of nirvana fallacy (either solving the climate issue altogether, or doing jack shit) + wishful belief (“AGI is cooooming! Praise AGI!”), right?

This wouldn’t even stop the development of model-based generation, mind you. Only force it towards smarter approaches, that don’t boil down to “needz moar [parameters | training data | cranks]!” brute-force.

But nah. I’m supposed to treat it as a devil or as an angel, right? And this specific muppet is treating it like an angel talking about the First Coming of AGI.

helix@feddit.org on 07 Oct 2024 20:47 collapse

fine (yes, fine; not just “tax”) heavy energy sinks, to the point that they’re unable to run,

Like AI? 😄

lvxferre@mander.xyz on 07 Oct 2024 21:23 collapse

Exactly! (Plus bitcoin mining. Same deal, really - a flawed tech with some potential and some use, but that does not justify the associated environmental harm.)

Of course, tech bros like Schmidt won’t like the solution.

And if the underlying tech improves in such a way that it stops being fined, it stopped being part of the problem.

Psiczar@aussie.zone on 07 Oct 2024 21:58 next collapse

I think we are past the tipping point now, it’s downhill from here and what we do to reduce carbon emissions will only determine how fast we go down that hill.

FlashMobOfOne@beehaw.org on 07 Oct 2024 22:54 next collapse

There are so many high-profile assholes in this country named Eric.

Nougat@fedia.io on 07 Oct 2024 23:58 next collapse

The solution must be a hammer, because I have one!

Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org on 08 Oct 2024 01:13 next collapse

I saw a post the other day here that was saying something along the lines of “because china’s car market is swapping to EV’s we might be at the tipping point for climate change either in 2024 or 2025”

Which if true would be really nice. I have no idea of the validity of that claim, but i just wanted to add it. Maybe we aren’t so screwed? Fingers crossed I guess :3

realharo@lemm.ee on 08 Oct 2024 08:14 next collapse

So why don’t you at least try to run the numbers. Takes like 2 minutes. Total output, output per car, number of cars - it’s not rocket science.

Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org on 08 Oct 2024 08:54 next collapse

Yeah, I could have, but it would have taken longer than 5 minutes of work, and I’m not nearly knowledgeable enough to take all the factors into account. I was posting this while taking a quick break etc.

I was just trying to add some hope to an otherwise gloomy topic.

But you’re right, I’m sure with some effort I could probably have at least a ballpark idea.

pbjamm@beehaw.org on 09 Oct 2024 15:05 collapse

Need to factor in the carbon cost of constructing a new vehicle vs running a less efficient one for longer. Disposal and possible recycling of old vehicles, also not free. Upgrades to the charging grid and construction of charging locations for all those new vehicles. Brakes and tires also cause significant pollution and are still an issue no matter the power unit of the car.

Then compare all that to building trams and light rail in metro areas instead of building cities to accommodate cars, roads and parking lots instead of humans.

Trainguyrom@reddthat.com on 08 Oct 2024 17:05 collapse

There’s growing research into positive tipping points for the climate. Biden’s historic investment into renewables put a finger on the scales tipping them for significantly more solar and wind investment, which will of course reduce the cost of building solar and wind and soon enough the federal government’s finger won’t even be needed on the scale to make solar and wind cost effective to build.

Other decarbonization efforts like pushing for more bike infrastructure leading to fewer car trips and more bike trips, and shifting cars to electricity rather than gasoline also have tipping points where it will make far more sense to do the cheaper thing that happens to be better for the climate than not

kembik@lemm.ee on 08 Oct 2024 01:43 next collapse

And we’ll come up with a name that merges climate and technology, let’s call it skynet.

arthur@lemmy.zip on 08 Oct 2024 01:46 next collapse

Some people should just shut up and retire.

Branquinho@lemmy.eco.br on 08 Oct 2024 02:12 next collapse

“I’m not hitting my goals on staying sober. I’d rather bet on my next drink to solve this problem for me.”

vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de on 08 Oct 2024 05:05 next collapse

the first advice the superintelligent ai would give: “power me down”

slacktoid@lemmy.ml on 08 Oct 2024 05:18 next collapse

Why not both you fucking clown

ClassifiedPancake@discuss.tchncs.de on 08 Oct 2024 06:48 next collapse

We have all the solutions, we just need to execute them.

Spacehooks@reddthat.com on 08 Oct 2024 11:59 next collapse

But the shareholders!

pbjamm@beehaw.org on 09 Oct 2024 14:57 collapse

Long pig is back on the menu!

tangentism@beehaw.org on 08 Oct 2024 07:34 next collapse

Epic Schmidt goes to his AI prompt and asks “How do we solve the climate crisis?”

For a moment, the prompt ponders until it replies

“Kill all the data centres. Stop trying to harvest everyone’s data”

Epic says to himself “I guess we’ll never know!”

NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone on 08 Oct 2024 08:26 next collapse

We’re not going to hit our climate targets so he’s going to snort an entire mailbag of cocaine every single day.

drwho@beehaw.org on 08 Oct 2024 16:59 next collapse

Gee. It’s almost as if rich people don’t give a single shit about anyone else. /s

TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com on 08 Oct 2024 17:36 collapse

I’m ready to make Schmidt live the life an AI tells him how to live before we let AI tell all us what to do