https://eraldkolasi.substack.com/p/the-global-energy-and-emissions-footprint

Trying to find realistic estimation of energy and water usage for AI. I’ve read water estimates from “less than most agriculture” to “more than a city”, and similarly wide estimates of electricity consumption and waste heat/emissions.  This paper is one data point that purports to be more accurate, although as with most others the text is cloaked in hyperbole.

Not sure what’s real here, but want to set a marker on the more extreme position.

Note that some analysts also posit that, since the chips involved have a useful life of months before being hopelessly obsolete and requiring replacement, it’s categorically impossible for the industry to make money on scaling up (https://share.google/TCs1bLRPT2T6G6rPw)