Episode 21 Season 7: The Environmental Price of A.I. and Touching Pets

The Science Pawdcast

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We dive into the environmental impact of AI technologies and explore the science behind how pet touch affects human well-being.
• Generative AI consumes significant energy with a ChatGPT query using approximately 10 times more energy than a Google search
• By 2028, data centers could account for 12% of US energy use, up from 4.4% currently
• Companies rarely disclose the true energy costs of training and running AI models
• Smaller AI models can achieve similar results with dramatically lower carbon footprints
• Practical solutions include choosing efficient models, using AI during off-peak hours, and minimizing unnecessary words in prompts
• Recent study of 443 pet owners shows both giving and receiving touch contributes to owner well-being
• Stroking pets shows stronger positive effects on well-being than hugging or holding
• Pet leaning behavior (like when dogs press against their owners) is particularly beneficial for emotional health
• The act of giving touch to pets may be more beneficial than receiving touch from them
• The physical mechanisms of touch involve specialized nerve fibers that respond differently in hairy versus non-hairy skin

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Chapters

1. Welcome to the Science Podcast (00:00:00)

2. AI's Environmental Impact (00:02:55)

3. Energy Consumption of AI Systems (00:12:05)

4. Reducing AI's Carbon Footprint (00:18:09)

5. The Science of Touch (00:22:51)

6. Pet Touch and Owner Well-being (00:24:38)

7. Touch Benefits and Future Research (00:29:35)