The optics are bad. Sam needs a good PR firm/coach. He also needs a Sheryl Sandberg in my opinion.
The message behind it is that yes, training a new model uses a lot of energy but the benefits are enormous once trained. I think his humans use energy too analogy likely came from him hearing messages about how training pollutes the earth. In his mind, he thinks training a new model is as useful or more useful than 3,000 people on average. Even if he is right, he shouldn't have used this analogy due to how sensitive people are right now with AI, energy, potential job loss, etc.
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 24.9 ms ] threadThe message behind it is that yes, training a new model uses a lot of energy but the benefits are enormous once trained. I think his humans use energy too analogy likely came from him hearing messages about how training pollutes the earth. In his mind, he thinks training a new model is as useful or more useful than 3,000 people on average. Even if he is right, he shouldn't have used this analogy due to how sensitive people are right now with AI, energy, potential job loss, etc.
Having worked in San Francisco, I know how insensitive tech bros are to the outside world. Perfect example is the 2015 Airbnb ads: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Airbnb-apologizes-for...
His analogy reveals a glaring lack of intelligence and empathy.
First, an intelligent person would think of the consequences of such a statement.
Second, an empathetic person would think of the consequences that the AI resource drain causes on rest of the society.