Chris Stokel-Walker

So that's kind of the thing that I think we have to bear in mind is those manual labor jobs, I think will be more in demand at the same time as those kind of Traditionally, white-collar jobs will be less in demand. The IMF put out a recent study that said 40% of all jobs worldwide could be affected in some way by AI. Doesn't mean completely replaced, just means changed. But it said 40%.

And most of those, ironically, compared to the Industrial Revolution, where it's a blue-collar displacement, will be white-collar jobs and will be in more economically developed countries, including the West and the Global North.

And most of those, ironically, compared to the Industrial Revolution, where it's a blue-collar displacement, will be white-collar jobs and will be in more economically developed countries, including the West and the Global North.

I really do wonder whether when they were discussing and signing off this plan in cabinet, they just kind of locked Ed Miliband in a separate room. Because this is like, yes, you're right. There is a huge environmental impact towards AI. And one of the challenges that we have

I really do wonder whether when they were discussing and signing off this plan in cabinet, they just kind of locked Ed Miliband in a separate room. Because this is like, yes, you're right. There is a huge environmental impact towards AI. And one of the challenges that we have

is the AI companies hold the information about how much environmental impact there is, and they don't tell us at the minute. We have best guesses by academics, but they are just that, guesses. It doesn't take a genius to realize that if a company isn't willing to tell the whole truth about something, then perhaps there might be something that they want to hide a little bit there.

is the AI companies hold the information about how much environmental impact there is, and they don't tell us at the minute. We have best guesses by academics, but they are just that, guesses. It doesn't take a genius to realize that if a company isn't willing to tell the whole truth about something, then perhaps there might be something that they want to hide a little bit there.

One of the things I think that AI companies do say is, well, and this is a common refrain, we've talked about this already with jobs, is yes, there is a short-term environmental impact. But in the long term, if we get this right, then AI systems can find better, more economical, more environmentally friendly ways of powering our energy systems, of doing all of this stuff.

One of the things I think that AI companies do say is, well, and this is a common refrain, we've talked about this already with jobs, is yes, there is a short-term environmental impact. But in the long term, if we get this right, then AI systems can find better, more economical, more environmentally friendly ways of powering our energy systems, of doing all of this stuff.

We can better use the energy that we do have, provided that we use the AI technology that is currently draining. our energy system and causing such a demand on our water supplies and elsewhere. Whether you choose to believe that is kind of, I guess, your tolerance of belief in tech companies to do the right thing.

We can better use the energy that we do have, provided that we use the AI technology that is currently draining. our energy system and causing such a demand on our water supplies and elsewhere. Whether you choose to believe that is kind of, I guess, your tolerance of belief in tech companies to do the right thing.

I'm a tech skeptic tech reporter, and I speak to this really interesting expert called Sasha Luciani. She works for a company called Hugging Face. She's their AI and climate lead. She has tried constantly to get these numbers out of those companies, and they just won't give them. And that gives her real concerns in the long run.

I'm a tech skeptic tech reporter, and I speak to this really interesting expert called Sasha Luciani. She works for a company called Hugging Face. She's their AI and climate lead. She has tried constantly to get these numbers out of those companies, and they just won't give them. And that gives her real concerns in the long run.

We do. And another stat that might be useful to try and bring it home to our listeners is that every time that you interact with ChatGPT and ask it 20 questions back and forth, that's equivalent of pouring a bottle of water that you would get from WH Smiths or whatever down the drain. The reason why this water usage is happening is because essentially

We do. And another stat that might be useful to try and bring it home to our listeners is that every time that you interact with ChatGPT and ask it 20 questions back and forth, that's equivalent of pouring a bottle of water that you would get from WH Smiths or whatever down the drain. The reason why this water usage is happening is because essentially

Every query that you make for a chat GPT or similar tool goes to what's called a data center. They produce heat and energy and they need to be cooled down so water constantly has to flow across them in order to try and take away the heat. Yes, you would hope that the government will take action on this. The problem, of course, is...

Every query that you make for a chat GPT or similar tool goes to what's called a data center. They produce heat and energy and they need to be cooled down so water constantly has to flow across them in order to try and take away the heat. Yes, you would hope that the government will take action on this. The problem, of course, is...

that if we take a stronger stance on the environmental impact, that other people will say, well, we'll have more lax regulation, come and work with us. And one of the things I think that was really interesting about the AI Opportunities Plan is almost the messaging behind it wasn't designed fully for us as individuals.

that if we take a stronger stance on the environmental impact, that other people will say, well, we'll have more lax regulation, come and work with us. And one of the things I think that was really interesting about the AI Opportunities Plan is almost the messaging behind it wasn't designed fully for us as individuals.

It was actually Keir Starmer kind of standing up in front of glitzy robots behind him to try and signify new technology and saying, well, the world's investors, we are open for business. Come to us, we will welcome you. with open arms, we will potentially bend our rules a little bit and our principles perhaps as well in order to get you here. Because we know that this is the competition.