I was listening to an NPR radio discussion about the problems areas are having with new massive #DataCenters designed for #AI processing. The issues come down to water for cooling and incredibly amounts of power needed. I had an idea that may have been discussed already but it seemed new to me.
#NiagaraFalls. The #US and #Canada each setup a large area near the Falls to house the data centers. Mandate that this is where all AI will be processed. There is plenty of water. Each country will create a dedicated grid for their area that has its own turbines. The companies located at these areas will pay for the power and water.
This seems like it would be a good #ClimeteSolution. Of course not using AI would be the best option but that ship has sailed.
Problem solved?
@kkarhan@infosec.space@old_hippie no, because #OpenAI already uses more electricity than the poorest 117 countries together!
@kkarhan But Niagara Falls and other large waterfalls could be harnessed without interfering with existing power grids.
@kkarhan@old_hippie it would, due to them being not only already used for that and because they too depend on a constant flow and water level.
- Meaning even if anyone would setup said datacenters off-grid / on their own microgrid that is not syncronized with the grid, they'd still compete with it on the finite amount of water flow they can harness.
Meaning that whilst water is a renewable energy, the amount if energy at a certain site is limited by it's physical parameters: You cannot have a higher flow rate than the river has nor can you have a higher vertical drop than exists there.
@kkarhan There's an awfully huge amount of water going over the falls and another power plant wouldn't hinder the flow. We're talking about one of the largest waterfalls in the world.
To my knowledge there is only one power plant there now.
@kkarhan@old_hippie propably because they don't want to reduce the flow rate further and preserve it as tourist attraction!
@kkarhan@old_hippie Needless to say such an idea - as absurd as it seems - also is bad because it offsets the investment into #renewables by removing capacity from the grid and into #WastefulComputing!
@kkarhan Please note that I never said that I believe AI is a good thing. I am just giving an idea that could possibly get it done with as little pain as possible. AI is happening and I believe we need to reduce it's horrible impact.