AI's Operational Costs and Ethical Considerations
The integration and operation of AI technologies, particularly those like OpenAI's ChatGPT, come with significant financial and ethical considerations.
Operational Costs of AI
- Financial Implications: OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, highlights that engaging with AI using polite expressions like "please" and "thank you" incurs substantial costs, estimated in the tens of millions of dollars.
- Use of Resources: The functioning of AI systems relies on large language models (LLMs) which demand:
- Advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) for efficient data processing and real-time response.
- Significant electricity, with global data centers consuming around 2% of the world's electricity.
- Water for cooling purposes, where generating a 100-word response can require three bottles of water.
Philosophical and Ethical Questions
- Philosophical Dilemmas: The cost of politeness raises questions about the value and price of civility in digital interactions.
- Benefits of Politeness:
- Training AI to respond politely encourages collaborative interaction.
- It instills important life skills for digital natives accustomed to shorthand communication.
- Ethical Considerations: The expense associated with AI kindness prompts concerns about compassion being priced out of future interactions.
Historical Perspectives
Drawing on ancient Greek philosophy:
- Socrates: Emphasized that civility is the foundation of meaningful dialogue.
- Aristotle: Suggested that ethical habits are cultivated through repeated actions.
