Bitcoin mining company Core Scientific recently signed a 200 megawatt deal with cloud computing firm CoreWeave, involving the modification of existing infrastructure to host GPUs for high-performance computing. This move brought attention to the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and Bitcoin, two industries that have been generating a lot of buzz lately.
While the collaboration between Core Scientific and CoreWeave makes sense from a business perspective, not everyone is thrilled about the rise of AI. Concerns about bias, transparency, privacy, safety, and validity have been raised by detractors. One major issue that hasn’t received as much attention as it should is the energy consumption of AI.
As AI continues to grow, it will require more energy to power the data centers that make its operations possible. Projections suggest that by 2030, data centers in the U.S. could consume up to 8% of the total power supply, with AI playing a significant role in driving this demand. Despite these projections, there seems to be less public discourse about the energy consumption of AI compared to Bitcoin.
The difference in public perception can be attributed to several factors. The influx of investment capital into AI and the speculative nature of the industry have led to significant growth and a positive narrative around AI. Companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have become major players in the AI space, influencing public opinion and shaping the conversation around AI.
In contrast, Bitcoin has faced criticism and skepticism since its inception. The lack of major investment and support from big tech companies has contributed to a less favorable public perception of Bitcoin. Additionally, the potential risks associated with AI, such as the possibility of AI becoming sentient and taking over the world, overshadow concerns about its energy consumption.
While some individuals have raised alarms about the energy consumption of both AI and Bitcoin, the focus has predominantly been on Bitcoin. This discrepancy can be attributed to the different narratives surrounding the two industries and the varying levels of investment and support they receive.
Ultimately, the comparison between AI and Bitcoin highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in each industry. As AI continues to evolve and integrate into various aspects of society, the conversation around its energy consumption will likely become more prominent. In the meantime, it is essential to consider the implications of both AI and Bitcoin on our daily lives and the future of technology.