• Lugh@futurology.todayOPM
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    20
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    7 months ago

    Computers are starting to use staggering amounts of electricity. There is a trade-off here between the utility of the tasks they perform and the climate damage caused by generating all the electricity they need. Bitcoin mining is thought to be currently using 2% of America’s electricity and seems an especially egregious waste of energy.

    Radically diminishing computer’s electricity requirements as they become more powerful should be seen as an urgent task.

  • pelya@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    7 months ago

    So the whole chip is a complicated lens, that somehow can perform multiplication using ‘analogue computation’.

    Arxiv link

    • kakes@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      16
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      7 months ago

      Imo, analog computation is the way forward with this whole AI thing. It seems like a waste to perform calculations bit-by-bit when neural nets are generally okay with “fuzzy math” anyway.

      • FenrirIII@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        7 months ago

        I don’t want fuzzy math anywhere near autonomous armed machines. You want ED-209? Because that’s how you get ED-209.

        • kakes@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          7 months ago

          I mean, I personally agree, but the military has already made it clear they don’t mind. ED-209 is basically an inevitability at this point.

      • BasicTraveler@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        7 months ago

        Idk, maybe. But i think you may have issues with tolerances and reproducibility. With analog and neutral nets your going to have edgecases where some devices will give vastly differing outcomes. For something that’s fine but not for others.

  • Yer Ma@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    7 months ago

    Automobile analogy: there is no replacement for displacement… until there is?