The Artificial Human

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Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong answer the questions we're all asking about AI.

Artificial intelligence is in our homes, phones, schools and workplaces... What does this even mean? Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong answer the questions we're all asking about AI.

Every day, we read something new about Artificial Intelligence  - it'll take our jobs, it'll teach our kids, it knows more about us than we do ourselves... but how much of that is hype, and how much is, or will be reality?
 
Part of our problem with AI is that it feels impenetrable and mysterious, especially when even those building it aren't entirely sure how it works.
 
In a new series, Aleks Krotoski (The Digital Human, Radio 4) and Kevin Fong (13 Minutes to the Moon, BBC World Service) set out to 'solve' AI. Or at the very least, to answer our questions on all things artificial intelligence-related. These are the questions that really matter to us - is AI smarter than me? Could AI make me money? Will AI save my life or make me its slave?

These questions predate the current frenzy created by the likes of Chat GPT, BARD and LlaMA. They've been in our collective psyche ever since the very first thinking machines. Now these fears and excitement are a reality. This series arrives at a critical moment.

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The Artificial Human: How green is my AI?

How green is my AI?

BBC Radio 4 - The Artificial Human, How green is my AI?

Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong ask, how green is my AI?

As Apple announce the integration of generative AI across their platforms, Aleks and Kevin ask, do we actually know how much energy AI consumes and is it compatible with net zero?

As Apple announce the integration of generative AI across their platforms Aleks and Kevin ask do we actually know how much energy AI consumes and is it compatible with a push to net zero?

Energy consumption is AI's dirty little secret, some industry insiders believe the true potential of these technologies won't be realised until the problem is solved. Aleks and Kevin uncover some fairly startling numbers; a search done through an AI like ChatGPT can use up to 40 times more energy than using a traditional search engine, while a single hi-res image created by an AI could use the equivalent of half a smart phone charge. But because that happens on a server, perhaps in another country users remain ignorant of the potential impact their casual use might have on the push to net zero. 

Presenters: Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong
Producer: Peter McManus
Mixed by Niall Young

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