This post critiques the concept of folk Cartesianism, which posits a unified self that observes mental processes with certainty. The author argues against the existence of Cartesian egos, suggesting they conflict with physicalism ...
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Andy Masley is a writer interested in utopian ideas, philosophy, and animal welfare, using his blog to explore and share insights on improving life and society.
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The post discusses the relevance of philosophy, particularly the philosophy of mind, in the context of AI and contemporary debates. It critiques the resurgence of 'folk Cartesianism,' which posits a dualistic view of the mind, and...
The author critiques Karen Hao's book 'Empire of AI' for presenting misleading claims about the water usage of AI data centers. Key points include Hao's incorrect assertion that a data center uses 1000 times more water than a city...
The author argues against the Boston City Council's inclination to ban autonomous vehicles (AVs), emphasizing their safety compared to human drivers and the potential benefits they offer, such as increased accessibility for disabl...
The author expresses concerns about the inaccurate portrayal of AI and data centers in environmental journalism. They emphasize the need for accurate context and comparisons to help readers understand the true environmental impact...
The author argues that concerns about AI's water usage are exaggerated and unfounded. They compare AI data centers' water consumption to other industries, highlighting that AI uses a minuscule fraction of the nation's freshwater. ...
The post discusses the rise in average American household electricity prices since 2020, attributing the increase to utility costs rather than data centers. It highlights that while electricity prices have risen nominally, they re...
The blog post critiques More Perfect Union (MPU) for spreading misinformation about data centers' water usage, claiming they limit access to water for local residents. The author argues that data centers, including Meta's in Georg...
The post critiques the common belief that small individual actions can collectively lead to significant climate change mitigation. It argues that while tiny actions may seem impactful, they often represent a negligible percentage ...
6.3What a data center is
2025-10-08 • data center environment energy efficiency ai
The post argues against the environmental criticism of data centers by illustrating their energy efficiency through thought experiments. It compares personal AI usage to data centers, emphasizing that while individual emissions fr...
The post discusses the 'lump of cognition fallacy,' which suggests that there is a fixed amount of thinking to do, similar to the 'lump of labor fallacy' in economics. The author argues that outsourcing cognition, such as using AI...
The author discusses the societal panic surrounding AI chatbots, highlighting three contradictory beliefs held by critics: that chatbots are useless, that they cannot provide value, and that they are inherently evil. The author re...
The post critiques the notion that computers, particularly AI, are less accountable than humans. It argues that society holds computers to higher standards of accountability, as they can be monitored and reprogrammed more easily t...
The author reflects on their journey of exploring the intersection of AI and environmental issues over the past six months. They express frustration with the misinformation surrounding AI's energy and water usage, noting their eff...
The author discusses the increasing ideological extremism observed in society, highlighting how individuals often become entrenched in their beliefs after encountering criticism. They argue that the average critic lacks the knowle...
The author argues that concerns about the environmental impact of using chatbots, specifically ChatGPT, are exaggerated. They present data showing that the carbon emissions and water usage from individual chatbot prompts are negli...
The author critiques the moral panic surrounding the environmental impacts of chatbot prompts and proposes a public list of widely believed catastrophes that may be exaggerated or unfounded. They outline criteria for what constitu...
The post critiques common beliefs held by low-trust populist voters regarding economic exchanges, technology, and the role of data centers in society. It argues against the notion that all trades are zero-sum, emphasizing that dat...
The author expresses excitement about being the first guest on the podcast 'Conspicuous Cognition' hosted by Dan and Henry. They commend Dan's focus on misconceptions about misinformation and elite opinion, highlighting the podcas...
The author discusses key points regarding AI's environmental impact, emphasizing the need to contextualize AI's carbon and water footprint compared to other industries. They argue that AI should not be treated as an isolated issue...
5.6Slop implies capability
2025-10-13 • technology deep learning video generation sora ai
The author discusses the negative reactions to OpenAI's Sora 2 video model, arguing that while the generated content may seem trivial, it demonstrates significant advancements in AI capabilities. The ability of AI to create cohere...
AI can generate new knowledge by synthesizing existing information, challenging the notion that it only regurgitates pre-existing concepts.
A call for improved climate change communication that emphasizes clear comparisons of lifestyle impacts and the importance of systemic solutions over individual actions.
4.1Always mask at airports
2025-10-31 • travel covid-19 airports public health backmasking
The author advocates for wearing N95 masks in airports to reduce the risk of illness during travel, especially given the close contact with strangers. They reflect on their own experiences with masking during the COVID pandemic, e...