This is a really disingenuous way to characterize the article (CO2 and global warming were much more of a focus than water, so your "or something" is doing a lot of work).

Furthermore your comment ignores key arguments in the article, particularly the argument that contributors should not be forced to participate in AI-based ceremonies such as LLM code review that they may object to on personal ethical grounds.

▲ kouteiheika 12 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> This is a really disingenuous way to characterize the article (CO2 and global warming were much more of a focus than water, so your "or something" is doing a lot of work).

Remind me please, how much exactly do data centers contribute to greenhouse emissions? And how much something like, I don't know, meat production contribute?

If my Googling is correct, apparently a single ChatGPT query produces ~0.004 kg CO2e/kg. Beef production contributes ~60 kg CO2e/kg. So you'd need to make, err... over 15k ChatGPT queries to produce as much emissions as eating a single kilogram of beef.

I've seen anti-AI protests. Where are all the anti-meat protests? I don't mean to engage in whataboutism, I'm just saying -- if your goal is to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere then there are bigger fish to fry, instead of just virtue signaling because there's a new trendy bogeyman in town.

▲ NewJazz 12 hours ago | parent [-]

What's with this whataboutism? What if I told you I was vegan? What if I told you I only drive to work or to medical appointments? Would you pull another excuse out to justify your emissions?

I've seen anti-AI protests. Where are all the anti-meat protests?

Fucking everywhere bro.

	▲	TiredOfLife 11 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> What if I told you I was vegan? That means you are likely responsible for more water wastage than a datacenter
	▲	aziaziazi 10 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Perfect time to plug some coming events. Anybody welcome to try some free Dahl, Tofu, Tempeh and others delicacies. `29.08.2026 end-of-speciesism.org/en/ 1.10.2026 wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Vegetarian_Day 2.10.2026 dayforanimals.com (birthday of Gandhi) 1.11.2026 wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Vegan_Day`
	▲	throwuxiytayq 11 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Kernel developers just aren’t emitting that much CO2 with their proompting. It’s okay that you’re pissed off, but it would be more productive if you were pissed off by real world issues.

▲ berkes 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Pandora's box is open.

And it's not Linux' task to close that, even if it could, which it cannot. How is that disingenuous?

I agree that we should keep discussing the merits and dangers of AI-aided software development. Broad, so indeed also CO2 etc. But that discussion is not something that Linux should push forward. It's a discussion that should take place outside the context of specific projects and in the context of the AI tools and providers, IMO.

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ch71r22 12 hours ago | parent [-]

It's disingenuous because it's attacking something that the article didn't say. It didn't say "kernel devs should prompt less because it uses up water."

The real argument was that AI has many externalities that should be considered (climate change, water use, energy prices, putting people out of jobs) and that Linux, as a relevant and influential political actor, should engage with these topics. It's not even giving a final determination about what Linux should do, it's just disagreeing with Torvalds' total rejection of ethical arguments about AI.

Even if you believe that the technical merits outweigh the other costs, it seems at least reasonable to engage on those grounds. But Torvalds isn't doing that.

Also, simply stating that the "cat is out of the bag" and "Pandora's box is open" isn't really an argument. These are thought-terminating cliches; not logical arguments

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throwuxiytayq 11 hours ago | parent [-]

> These are thought-terminating cliches; not logical arguments

Consider sometimes terminating some thoughts and replacing them with actually useful ones. It’s good for you and your goals regardless of what they are.

People burning thought-hours on pretending that we can make AI go away are basically doing nothing except emitting CO2 and consuming water. If you want change, start with yourself!

Anyway, so far zero actionable suggestions for Torvalds in the article or in this thread. Great job so far.

	▲	ch71r22 9 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The original discussion was based on actionable suggestions about an opt-out system for Sachiko

▲ veeti 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Contributors may object to the Hitler AI on their personal ethical grounds, but it's not going to make their buggy and vulnerable code any less so. Because our societies critically depend on projects like Linux, it follows that someone willing to pick up the pieces and do the work will then take their place.