How do You Feel About AI (artificial intelligence)?

[Mike Pierson]

I know there's no turning back now and AI is here to stay and as much as I have found it to be entertaining and even useful at times... I have to say, a part of me is having a hard time with it.

Just read the following article and it really hits home being that all this is going on in our backyard.

The AI boom is heralding a new gold rush in the American west

Once home to gold and prospectors, the Nevada desert is now the site of a new kind of expansion: tech datacenters

www.theguardian.com

The fact that they’re taking over all that land is disconcerting but the issue of the water use could be worse not to mention the amount of people coming followed by increased costs for everything.

 

[wayoflife]

Yep. Just like windmill farms taking over land.

I wonder if the data centers are really even needed or we're just being told that.

For us, it's solar farms as far as the eye can see. I mean, who gives a fuck about land in the desert, right?

As far as data centers go, they're necessary for AI or at least, from what we're being told.

 

[wayoflife]

how quickly they jumped off their virtue signaling "green" bandwagon.
The estimates for water usage are way below what will actually be used and can't wait to see how they plan to dispose of the environmental waste.
This should also be forced to produce double electrical needs so the rest can help lower the bills of the people that are about to be affected with a much higher bill

Right?! Saving the planet apparently takes a back seat to AI.

The amount of water needed is astronomical and they are taking it from a place that has very little of it. I'm not typically an indian rights kind of guy but the concerns that the local tribes have is legit.

As far as electricity goes, the amount needed for AI is mind blowing. Already, natural gas plants that were slated to be shut down are staying online, more are now scheduled to be built and they're tearing up the desert to make massive solar plants and build infrastructure needed to facilitate all of it. And yes, areas that have data centers DO have higher electric bills.

All this is just so depressing.

 

[wayoflife]

The fact that they’re taking over all that land is disconcerting but the issue of the water use could be worse not to mention the amount of people coming followed by increased costs for everything.

THIS ^^^ I'm not even concerned with the land that's getting swallowed up to build these things, it's the amount of water they take and electricity needed and all the additional land destruction created to make it all possible that bothers me.

 

[bobfriesenhahn]

I know there's no turning back now and AI is here to stay and as much as I have found it to be entertaining and even useful at times... I have to say, a part of me is having a hard time with it.

Just read the following article and it really hits home being that all this is going on in our backyard.

The AI boom is heralding a new gold rush in the American west

Once home to gold and prospectors, the Nevada desert is now the site of a new kind of expansion: tech datacenters

www.theguardian.com

A lot of tech workers are surely moving in from California.

 

[jeeeep]

A lot of tech workers are surely moving in from California.

AI data centers, AI will run them, they may not hire more than 100 people to have physical presence 24x7.

If I were to bet, there will be more security than data employees

 

[WJCO]

 

[Ddays]

I don't think folks are truly realizing how totally fucked we are with the combination of AI, Robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Corporations are so hell-bent on realizing the increased profits of the above combination and cost savings from the reduction of workers that no one is stopping to ask SHOULD we really be doing this? Of course they aren't going to stop, but I think in 5-10 years time the world is going to be a very different place, and not for the better. AI is already deeply entrenched in the building trades sector I'm in, and I'm continually surprised by who is using it and to the extent they are. In reality they're training their replacements.

This is the scenario I picture:
Construction Company X (CCX) is successful bidder for building a structure. They used AI to do the material takeoff, price and place the bid. The Customer AI tells CCX they are the low bidder and to proceed with construction. CCX has in their warehouse several commercial grade 3D printers capable of making products from any metal and plastic raw material. The CCX AI prompts their 3D printers to start production of the various specialties needed for the building. Once all of these items are done being made 24/7 and collated by the robots in the CCX facility, they are sent to the jobsite and the building is constructed either by robotics or a combination of both robots and workers.

This is very close to being possible now. The above very simplified scenario cuts over 60-75% of the people out of this process. It gets even worse when you go through every step of the process and this is just my industry. This touches everything so deeply that it really makes you stop and ask why the hell are we doing this?!

How are we going to replace the jobs for a minimum of 30-40% of the workforce, both blue and white-collar? We don't and can't.

Which makes you ask what are we going to do with that many people with no jobs and trying to live off of welfare, which will become non-existent
when the money dries up in a year or two?

 

[WJCO]

I don't think folks are truly realizing how totally fucked we are with the combination of AI, Robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Corporations are so hell-bent on realizing the increased profits of the above combination and cost savings from the reduction of workers that no one is stopping to ask SHOULD we really be doing this? Of course they aren't going to stop, but I think in 5-10 years time the world is going to be a very different place, and not for the better. AI is already deeply entrenched in the building trades sector I'm in, and I'm continually surprised by who is using it and to the extent they are. In reality they're training their replacements.

This is the scenario I picture:
Construction Company X (CCX) is successful bidder for building a structure. They used AI to do the material takeoff, price and place the bid. The Customer AI tells CCX they are the low bidder and to proceed with construction. CCX has in their warehouse several commercial grade 3D printers capable of making products from any metal and plastic raw material. The CCX AI prompts their 3D printers to start production of the various specialties needed for the building. Once all of these items are done being made 24/7 and collated by the robots in the CCX facility, they are sent to the jobsite and the building is constructed either by robotics or a combination of both robots and workers.

This is very close to being possible now. The above very simplified scenario cuts over 60-75% of the people out of this process. It gets even worse when you go through every step of the process and this is just my industry. This touches everything so deeply that it really makes you stop and ask why the hell are we doing this?!

How are we going to replace the jobs for a minimum of 30-40% of the workforce, both blue and white-collar? We don't and can't.

Which makes you ask what are we going to do with that many people with no jobs and trying to live off of welfare, which will become non-existent
when the money dries up in a year or two?

We're 100% fucked.

 

[wayoflife]

I don't think folks are truly realizing how totally fucked we are with the combination of AI, Robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Corporations are so hell-bent on realizing the increased profits of the above combination and cost savings from the reduction of workers that no one is stopping to ask SHOULD we really be doing this? Of course they aren't going to stop, but I think in 5-10 years time the world is going to be a very different place, and not for the better. AI is already deeply entrenched in the building trades sector I'm in, and I'm continually surprised by who is using it and to the extent they are. In reality they're training their replacements.

This is the scenario I picture:
Construction Company X (CCX) is successful bidder for building a structure. They used AI to do the material takeoff, price and place the bid. The Customer AI tells CCX they are the low bidder and to proceed with construction. CCX has in their warehouse several commercial grade 3D printers capable of making products from any metal and plastic raw material. The CCX AI prompts their 3D printers to start production of the various specialties needed for the building. Once all of these items are done being made 24/7 and collated by the robots in the CCX facility, they are sent to the jobsite and the building is constructed either by robotics or a combination of both robots and workers.

This is very close to being possible now. The above very simplified scenario cuts over 60-75% of the people out of this process. It gets even worse when you go through every step of the process and this is just my industry. This touches everything so deeply that it really makes you stop and ask why the hell are we doing this?!

How are we going to replace the jobs for a minimum of 30-40% of the workforce, both blue and white-collar? We don't and can't.

Which makes you ask what are we going to do with that many people with no jobs and trying to live off of welfare, which will become non-existent
when the money dries up in a year or two?

I keep trying to tell myself that I'm over thinking things but honestly, it doesn't look good. It's not the Terminator that I'm concerned with, it's scenarios like yours that does. All the things I've done for work in the past and hell, even what I do now are all things that AI can do and better and faster.

 

[Mike Pierson]

I don't think folks are truly realizing how totally fucked we are with the combination of AI, Robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Corporations are so hell-bent on realizing the increased profits of the above combination and cost savings from the reduction of workers that no one is stopping to ask SHOULD we really be doing this? Of course they aren't going to stop, but I think in 5-10 years time the world is going to be a very different place, and not for the better. AI is already deeply entrenched in the building trades sector I'm in, and I'm continually surprised by who is using it and to the extent they are. In reality they're training their replacements.

This is the scenario I picture:
Construction Company X (CCX) is successful bidder for building a structure. They used AI to do the material takeoff, price and place the bid. The Customer AI tells CCX they are the low bidder and to proceed with construction. CCX has in their warehouse several commercial grade 3D printers capable of making products from any metal and plastic raw material. The CCX AI prompts their 3D printers to start production of the various specialties needed for the building. Once all of these items are done being made 24/7 and collated by the robots in the CCX facility, they are sent to the jobsite and the building is constructed either by robotics or a combination of both robots and workers.

This is very close to being possible now. The above very simplified scenario cuts over 60-75% of the people out of this process. It gets even worse when you go through every step of the process and this is just my industry. This touches everything so deeply that it really makes you stop and ask why the hell are we doing this?!

How are we going to replace the jobs for a minimum of 30-40% of the workforce, both blue and white-collar? We don't and can't.

Which makes you ask what are we going to do with that many people with no jobs and trying to live off of welfare, which will become non-existent
when the money dries up in a year or two?

Yeah that’s a very likely scenario and it’s scary as hell. I keep hearing people say that these people can retrain for jobs in a trade like electricians, plumbing and welding. I know there’s a massive need for them now, but just like the huge push to get people into “coding” for the past 15ish years, we’re going to have too many people with the skills and extreme limited opportunity.

 

[OverlanderJK]

I don't think folks are truly realizing how totally fucked we are with the combination of AI, Robotics, and additive manufacturing.
Corporations are so hell-bent on realizing the increased profits of the above combination and cost savings from the reduction of workers that no one is stopping to ask SHOULD we really be doing this? Of course they aren't going to stop, but I think in 5-10 years time the world is going to be a very different place, and not for the better. AI is already deeply entrenched in the building trades sector I'm in, and I'm continually surprised by who is using it and to the extent they are. In reality they're training their replacements.

This is the scenario I picture:
Construction Company X (CCX) is successful bidder for building a structure. They used AI to do the material takeoff, price and place the bid. The Customer AI tells CCX they are the low bidder and to proceed with construction. CCX has in their warehouse several commercial grade 3D printers capable of making products from any metal and plastic raw material. The CCX AI prompts their 3D printers to start production of the various specialties needed for the building. Once all of these items are done being made 24/7 and collated by the robots in the CCX facility, they are sent to the jobsite and the building is constructed either by robotics or a combination of both robots and workers.

This is very close to being possible now. The above very simplified scenario cuts over 60-75% of the people out of this process. It gets even worse when you go through every step of the process and this is just my industry. This touches everything so deeply that it really makes you stop and ask why the hell are we doing this?!

How are we going to replace the jobs for a minimum of 30-40% of the workforce, both blue and white-collar? We don't and can't.

Which makes you ask what are we going to do with that many people with no jobs and trying to live off of welfare, which will become non-existent
when the money dries up in a year or two?

We can take a loan out to continue to fund welfare. No worries there.

 

[Ddays]

I keep trying to tell myself that I'm over thinking things but honestly, it doesn't look good. It's not the Terminator that I'm concerned with, it's scenarios like yours that does. All the things I've done for work in the past and hell, even what I do now are all things that AI can do and better and faster.

Same with me. My whole market segment could go away overnight. Literally

Yeah that’s a very likely scenario and it’s scary as hell. I keep hearing people say that these people can retrain for jobs in a trade like electricians, plumbing and welding. I know there’s a massive need for them now, but just like the huge push to get people into “coding” for the past 15ish years, we’re going to have too many people with the skills and extreme limited opportunity.

I hear the same but robotic prefabrication could make those obsolete as well. We're already seeing POD construction where the rooms are all prefabbed and assembled onsite.

But with no need for people to work what are we even needing new buildings for? These scenarios all go to shit in a big hurry any way you play it out in every industry and we're all fucked in the end.

 

[jeeeep]

Same with me. My whole market segment could go away overnight. Literally


I hear the same but robotic prefabrication could make those obsolete as well. We're already seeing POD construction where the rooms are all prefabbed and assembled onsite.

But with no need for people to work what are we even needing new buildings for? These scenarios all go to shit in a big hurry any way you play it out in every industry and we're all fucked in the end.

I saw a prefab home built with structural insulated panels, drove by it every day and never saw more than 5 guys and a forklift, it was a nice-looking home, multi-level, completed in about a week. I think it took longer to prep the foundation.

 

[Ddays]

I saw a prefab home built with structural insulated panels, drove by it every day and never saw more than 5 guys and a forklift, it was a nice-looking home, multi-level, completed in about a week. I think it took longer to prep the foundation.

Have you seen the robotic brick layers? Crazy to watch humans assemble their replacements on a jobsite & literally watch their job go away

 

[jeeeep]

Have you seen the robotic brick layers? Crazy to watch humans assemble their replacements on a jobsite & literally watch their job go away

I was 30 minutes late to an appointment because I pulled over to watch a robotic bricklayer, it was amazing to watch it and mesmerizing; hence the 30 minutes lol.

I was impressed how fast the bricks went up,

The guys operating the robot looked like they were just doing excess mortar cleanup.

 

[Aceisback]

I know there's no turning back now and AI is here to stay and as much as I have found it to be entertaining and even useful at times... I have to say, a part of me is having a hard time with it.

Just read the following article and it really hits home being that all this is going on in our backyard.

The AI boom is heralding a new gold rush in the American west

Once home to gold and prospectors, the Nevada desert is now the site of a new kind of expansion: tech datacenters

www.theguardian.com

A lot of people don’t care about such things but this is going to destroy y’all’s beautiful night skies that you have up there.

 

[jeeeep]

A lot of people don’t care about such things but this is going to destroy y’all’s beautiful night skies that you have up there.

All those green protestors have no clue how much life thrives and relies on the desert that does eventually affects their lives.

They merely see it as wasteland but once the solar and all the other bullshit destroys the land, what they think is benefitting and saving the planet, they are in fact putting it on the fast pace to destruction.

AI is a pollution generator, nothing green about it, solar and windmills are virtue signals at best, but really a big middle finger.

AI is not necessary nor needed anywhere, it's an elite's game to generate more profits and means to saturate the lust for more shit on their phone for the face-in-the- phone crowd. They bitch about the job market while cheering on the speed of AI.

I'm glad I won't be here to watch humanity further erode and destroy itself all led by IMO, the modern "death chambers" of big tech.

 

[Sharkey]

I am also in the construction industry and, at least right now, AI has basically zero impact on our 700-900 craft workers. While it hasn’t happened yet, it likely will have some impact on some of our 500 office staff. It isn’t going to get rid of position categories in their entirety, but it will reduce the number of people necessary in certain positions (like estimating).