The methodology is inherently flawed by assuming all infrastructure, training, etc is going to exist with or without individual queries, while trying to answer a different question of the impact of AI on the environment. It’s like arguing the environmental impact of solar electricity is 0 because the panels would exist either way.
Thus the results inherently fail to analyze the underlying question.
A more realistic estimate is to take their total spending assuming X% of their expenses are electricity directly or indirectly because the environmental impact isn’t adds up. Even that ignores the energy costs on 3rd party servers when they download their training data.
Thus the results inherently fail to analyze the underlying question.
A more realistic estimate is to take their total spending assuming X% of their expenses are electricity directly or indirectly because the environmental impact isn’t adds up. Even that ignores the energy costs on 3rd party servers when they download their training data.