[farfatched]

If it's emissions they worry about, then it's anything emitting.

Are they against washing machines too? Or are they just grandfathered in?

[pjc50]

This is literally why the EU mandates appliance energy efficiency.

It's never a binary thing. "Is using energy good or bad?" is a stupid question which can only provide stupid answers. It has to be placed in the context of whether it's proportionate to benefit.

Things which burn a lot of energy for little benefit - and in the case of AI, often negative benefit - end up more towards the "bad".

[farfatched]

That's a fair point.

I hadn't considered that societies rightfully impose standards on these things.

I consider it too early to judge the cost-benefit, but it's fair that others might have already evaluated that. I rescind my comment.

[zekrioca]

Don't be disingenuous. Not all energy is created equally.

[newtonsmethod]

Are we back to magic water and magic soil? Does the energy have some morality attached to it?

The emissions per kWh of energy used in providing internet downloads probably is similar to that per kWh of energy used for washing clothes.

[Aachen]

You're not seriously trying to explain that a kWh is equal to a kWh. Why not cut the crap? Are you trying to say washing clothes is of equal importance to convenience features in a browser, given that we can use each clean kWh only once? I can't tell what you truly mean like this

[frozenseven]

>a kWh is equal to a kWh

Yes, and it's none of your business how other people spend their electricity.

[vrganj]

That's where we disagree. With our current system so reliant on fossil fuels, every kWh generated is a debt to our planet, our society.

Until that's resolved, I don't wish that debt incurred for frivolous uses.

[frozenseven]

What do you mean you "disagree"? I pay for the electricity I use and I use it however I want.

Instead of trying to control other people, why can't you start with yourself? Throw away your phone/computer. Go live in a small hut. Practice what you preach.