I first starting thinking about this years ago when Google introduced its “search suggestions” feature. I realized that it meant that Google servers would no longer be waiting to respond to actual search queries; now they would be at work continuously, sending back lists of possibilities after every letter you type in a search box. The sole advantage of all this extra work? A list of search suggestions that most people just ignore.

My point is that energy saving ranks very low as a concern for big tech companies. If Netflix can create a slightly better “recommended for you” list with AI and neural networks, it will use AI and build neural networks, energy use and heat production be damned.

Cryptocurrency is just the most recent offender. We have incentivized power use by building a system that turns algorithmic busywork into wealth. We are literally paying people to keep computers occupies. Speculators have built huge power-guzzling bitcoin mining operations wherever the power grid prices are cheap.

So despite the improvements in technology and energy used, I’m pessimistic. As long as we are interested in innovation, but not reduction or conservation, I think this problem will continue to grow.