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AI in Linux

drewdevault.com

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Re: AI in Linux

#71

Post by throwuxiytayq »

NewJazz wrote: post #61
kouteiheika wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is a really disingenuous way to characterize the article (CO2 and global warming were much more of a focus than water, so your "or something" is doing a lot of work). Remind me please, how much exactly do data centers contribute to greenhouse emissions? And how much something like, I don't know, meat production contribute? If my Googling is correct, apparently a single ChatGPT query produces ~0.004 kg CO2e/kg.…

What's with this whataboutism? What if I told you I was vegan? What if I told you I only drive to work or to medical appointments? Would you pull another excuse out to justify your emissions? I've seen anti-AI protests. Where are all the anti-meat protests? Fucking everywhere bro.

Kernel developers just aren’t emitting that much CO2 with their proompting. It’s okay that you’re pissed off, but it would be more productive if you were pissed off by real world issues.

Re: AI in Linux

#72

Post by logancbrown »

andersonpico wrote: post #65
logancbrown wrote: post #11

>The same process is pricing regular people out of the energy they need to power their air conditioner during those heat waves and the technology it enables is pushing them out of the labor market and into poverty. I don't see evidence this is true, and the critical mass of data centers is making electricity cheaper. Economies of scale -> more energy = bigger electric plants = cheaper energy. https://netchoice.org/ne…

netchoice is a lobbying organization for the hyperscalers, you're straight up sharing a propaganda piece

Which metric do you disagree with presented on the site?

Re: AI in Linux

#73

Post by logancbrown »

berkes wrote: post #29
logancbrown wrote: post #11

>The same process is pricing regular people out of the energy they need to power their air conditioner during those heat waves and the technology it enables is pushing them out of the labor market and into poverty. I don't see evidence this is true, and the critical mass of data centers is making electricity cheaper. Economies of scale -> more energy = bigger electric plants = cheaper energy. https://netchoice.org/ne…

> Economies of scale -> more energy = bigger electric plants = cheaper energy. This isn't true. Certainly not globally. Because electricity in 2026 is converting finite and scares resources. Plants need fuel to burn, water to cool, material to build, land to sit on, etc. Yes, even Nuclear plants¹ need increasingly more scarce resources like "coolant". What has been bringing electricity prices down is renewables: insa…

It is true globally as well, but there are certainty anecdotes where confounding factors makes it not true like what you've highlighted with specific France Nuclear reactors.

We should be cognizant of the environmental impact of producing more energy, but it still remains true that making more energy means cheaper energy across the resources we have today.

Re: AI in Linux

#74

Post by 7e »

keeda wrote: post #67

> Looking at it from another angle: how many tons of CO₂ added to the atmosphere or liters of fresh water supplies disrupted is a tolerable price for a better code review? Fewer than if a human had done it without AI: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48941143 I guess that means he should advocate for more use of AI for Linux dev! ;-)

He should, but you'll never get these free software wingnuts to see logic. They back-rationalize everything from ideologically drawn conclusions.

And they're driven by fear--fear of being replaced. This is one reason why open source projects are limiting use of LLMs. LLMs finally make software free! Or at least, much cheaper.

In reality, these reactionary anti-AI policies mean that users are private forking OSS projects, improving them with AI, and not contributing the changes back, making the original OSS project even more irrelevant over time.

Re: AI in Linux

#75

Post by throwuxiytayq »

ch71r22 wrote: post #38
berkes wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Pandora's box is open. And it's not Linux' task to close that, even if it could, which it cannot. How is that disingenuous? I agree that we should keep discussing the merits and dangers of AI-aided software development. Broad, so indeed also CO2 etc. But that discussion is not something that Linux should push forward. It's a discussion that should take place outside the context of specific projects and in the conte…

It's disingenuous because it's attacking something that the article didn't say. It didn't say "kernel devs should prompt less because it uses up water." The real argument was that AI has many externalities that should be considered (climate change, water use, energy prices, putting people out of jobs) and that Linux, as a relevant and influential political actor, should engage with these topics. It's not even giving…

> These are thought-terminating cliches; not logical arguments

Consider sometimes terminating some thoughts and replacing them with actually useful ones. It’s good for you and your goals regardless of what they are.

People burning thought-hours on pretending that we can make AI go away are basically doing nothing except emitting CO2 and consuming water. If you want change, start with yourself!

Anyway, so far zero actionable suggestions for Torvalds in the article or in this thread. Great job so far.

Re: AI in Linux

#76

Post by dminik »

Legend2440 wrote: post #62
dminik wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So it can both outprice people as well as take their jobs? Well, leeway away.

The only reason we have the standard of living we do today is because of automation. I welcome more of it.

Only insofar as you were able to keep a job. If you lose your job to automation, and there are no more jobs left, what do you do? Where do you get the money to keep your standard of living?

Re: AI in Linux

#77

Post by atemerev »

NewJazz wrote: post #63
atemerev wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AI is just a tech like any other. Can be powered by CO2-neutral electricity like anything else. Otherwise, we'll have to protest against aluminum cans, airplanes, golf courts, lemon trees, and whatever else that uses water or electricity.

Plenty of people campaign against things like airplanes or golf courses. They might even be the same folks protesting AI usage! Imagine that!

Well thanks, but I prefer to have airplanes, and maybe occasionally even golf courses. As for climate change - you'd need to protest against Chinese (and Western, but mostly Chinese) coal and gas power plants way way before than you protest against airplanes and golf courses. I don't see too many protesters holding signs like "stop Chinese coal plants". For some reason.

Re: AI in Linux

#78

Post by aziaziazi »

NewJazz wrote: post #61
kouteiheika wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is a really disingenuous way to characterize the article (CO2 and global warming were much more of a focus than water, so your "or something" is doing a lot of work). Remind me please, how much exactly do data centers contribute to greenhouse emissions? And how much something like, I don't know, meat production contribute? If my Googling is correct, apparently a single ChatGPT query produces ~0.004 kg CO2e/kg.…

What's with this whataboutism? What if I told you I was vegan? What if I told you I only drive to work or to medical appointments? Would you pull another excuse out to justify your emissions? I've seen anti-AI protests. Where are all the anti-meat protests? Fucking everywhere bro.

Perfect time to plug some coming events. Anybody welcome to try some free Dahl, Tofu, Tempeh and others delicacies.

  29.08.2026 end-of-speciesism.org/en/
  1.10.2026 wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Vegetarian_Day
  2.10.2026 dayforanimals.com (birthday of Gandhi)
  1.11.2026 wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Vegan_Day

Re: AI in Linux

#79

Post by Legend2440 »

dminik wrote: post #76
Legend2440 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only reason we have the standard of living we do today is because of automation. I welcome more of it.

Only insofar as you were able to keep a job. If you lose your job to automation, and there are no more jobs left, what do you do? Where do you get the money to keep your standard of living?

Either we will invent new jobs, as we have always done in the past.

Or if truly all jobs can be done by machine, we retire and go live a life of fully automated luxury space communism.

Re: AI in Linux

#80

Post by dminik »

Legend2440 wrote: post #79
dminik wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only insofar as you were able to keep a job. If you lose your job to automation, and there are no more jobs left, what do you do? Where do you get the money to keep your standard of living?

Either we will invent new jobs, as we have always done in the past. Or if truly all jobs can be done by machine, we retire and go live a life of fully automated luxury space communism.

I wish I could share your optimism.
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