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University of Pennsylvania researchers say their photonic chip that uses light instead of electricity, can radically cut down the energy consumption of AI and is commercially available for use now. (www.eurekalert.org)

submitted 8 months ago by Lugh@futurology.today to c/futurology@futurology.today

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[–] Lugh@futurology.today 20 points 8 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] Noodle07@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Aren't modern computers taking way less energy than before per work? We just keep using more of it faster than the energy use decreases?

[–] cucumber_sandwich@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

Yes and yes

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

It has an even larger load in China. The invention of cryptocurrency has been a blight on the environment.