![\"\"](\"https:\/\/russianireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-11-12_15-33-45.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
These critics of AI are broadly correct but their presence here does nothing to counterbalance Web Summit’s role in advertising the tech and connecting AI startups with investors.<\/p>\n
These talks are a front. They\u2019re for the attendees first and foremost; not for the people networking and doing deals at Night Summit events.<\/p>\n
The next talk starts with a counterpoint, anyway. Apparently AI will let us optimize everything and use less energy. Who knew?<\/p>\n
In all seriousness, I suspect that\u2019s not where the profit motive is. Energy is cheap.<\/p>\n
I get distracted by negotiating Christmas plans, and a friend asking me to give editorial notes on some smut she\u2019s written.<\/p>\n
A talk on \u201cartificial photosynthesis\u201d. Is this carbon capture or solar panels?<\/p>\n
Solar panels, it turns out. Or \u201csolar cells\u201d. The product demos do look cool.<\/p>\n
The problem here isn\u2019t a lack of tech though. However real or effective this tech is, it won\u2019t do anything without widespread adoption, and there\u2019s no incentive structure for that.<\/p>\n
Amy Grace from Lissbon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stage 7 is hosting a discussion called \u201cAI\u2019s insatiable appetite for energy\u201d. I take a seat at the media desk and regret wearing a \u201cstanding-up\u201d jumpsuit. It\u2019s a relief to get off my feet for a while nonetheless. These critics of AI are broadly correct but their presence here does nothing to counterbalance Web Summit’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1614,"featured_media":360915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9350],"tags":[11814],"class_list":["post-360947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","tag-websummit"],"yoast_head":"\n