It wasn't that long ago that Photoshop was the top-of-the-line image-altering program. The new AI technology has left the crude tools of Photoshop in the dust. The image above was posted on Facebook with a request: "Could you fabulous and talented artists put my friend's mom doing activities or things she'd never want her mom to do?" I've embedded below just four of the dozens of clever and skillful images posted on the thread.
Anyone knowledgeable want to do a quick and dirty calculation on the power and water cost of the four images above? Or shall I just ask AI?
ReplyDeleteGenerating 4 images using a generative AI model consumes roughly 0.04 to 0.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and an estimated 2 to 14 liters of water
DeleteKeep in mind that posting a comment on a blog also consumes water and power, though considerably less than pictures…
Suppose I have just created the AI image of grandma holding cards. Now after saving the image I give the instruction to "change her dress from red to yellow." Does that require the same expenditure of energy? Can you estimate what fraction of the original cost... 1%, 10%, 50%, 100%...?
DeleteIf the AI tool uses localized editing (masking just the dress), it processes fewer pixels and tokens, saving some energy. If it re-runs a full text-to-image or image-to-image diffusion pipeline based on the old picture, it expends similar energy to the first creation.
DeleteTrained on others work who’ll never see a penny
ReplyDeleteOh no you don't, they'll likely see the penny... as it leaves their pocket(s).
DeleteI don't get the last (wedding) one?
ReplyDeletebut is that energy cost the cost of running the request? where is the energy cost of building the AI tool itself in all that, or storing all the information it uses? there is all this discussion about the *massive* power use of data centres, (https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/2025/06/10/data-centres-accounted-for-more-than-fifth-of-irelands-electricity-usage-last-year/) but I don't understand how to factor in that energy cost -(irish residents at the moment apparently) - maybe some of your educated readers could elucidate.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry David Mackay died so young, not only because he was a great guy, but also because it would have been nice to read an updated version of his book, https://www.withouthotair.com/ (I still remember his calculation of whether it is more efficient to boil water in a kettle first or directly on the cooker if you want to make pasta...)
Is this really going to be around for very long?
ReplyDelete1. AI companies need to make money to stay viable. They are not.
2. People need to buy computers/phones to use AI. Prices are going up.
3. AI companies need data centers. Neighborhoods don't want them.
4. AI companies need funding. People are buying stocks on margin. Oops, Korea just got a lesson last month on what this does to their economy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy90LdpEUvQ
5. A lot of tech bros promising stuff, but not delivering. POP goes the weasel!
"skillful" ?!
ReplyDeletePossessing a capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. (would be "skilful" for Commonwealth and Irish)
Delete