Australian Homes and Businesses to Be Slugged with ‘Intelligence Bills’ as AI Pioneer Predicts Future Where Humans Pay for ‘Thoughts’ by the Meter
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparks outrage with prediction that artificial intelligence will be sold like electricity or water, with users paying for “intelligence” on a meter
- Critics slam the idea as “bleak”, “anti-humanity”, and “fancy talk for ‘we’re gonna charge you to think'”
- Concerns raised over environmental impact of AI infrastructure, with data centres already consuming a significant share of global electricity
The future of artificial intelligence has sparked a heated debate after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted that humans will soon be paying for “intelligence” by the meter, just like electricity or water. The bold prediction has left many outraged, with critics labelling it as “bleak” and “anti-humanity”.
During an appearance at the BlackRock US Infrastructure summit in Washington, Altman detailed his forecast on the evolution of AI as demand continues to rise. “We see a future where intelligence is a utility, like electricity or water, and people will buy it from us on a meter,” he said. This would mean that users would pay for “tokens” of intelligence, which would be used to fuel AI systems.
The concept of tokens is still foreign to many, but essentially, it’s a small chunk of text that AI reads or writes. Imagine AI as a vending machine; every time you ask it to do something, it uses a small amount of ‘fuel’ to understand your request and respond accordingly. That fuel is called a token. If AI was to become an everyday utility, it might work like you paying for one million tokens at the beginning of each month, which would be your ‘budget’ for how much you can use the intelligence. At the end of the month, you would get a bill for your usage, similarly to gigabytes on a phone plan.
Altman’s prediction has sparked outrage, with many taking to social media to express their concerns. “I don’t need AI to live, dude. I’ve literally never seen a more delusional tech founder in my life,” wrote one user. Another said, “This is one of the bleakest things I’ve ever heard. Categorically anti-humanity.” A third questioned, “They stole all this data from us, the people, our life’s work, creativity, art, etc. by devouring the internet and blowing through all copyright laws. Now they want to ‘sell it back to us’ in the form of a utility?”
But Altman is not alone in his vision for the future of AI. He believes that humans will “create new jobs” to coincide with the tech revolution, but conceded that the “next few years are going to be a painful adjustment.”
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is also raising major concerns about its environmental impact. Data centres, which are essential for AI systems, already consume a significant share of global electricity, and that demand is expected to rise sharply as AI systems become more widespread. Australia has already emerged as a major hub for data centres, with over 250 centres operating across the country, and more under construction. The proposed Mamre Road Data Centre in Sydney’s west has a planned capacity of one gigawatt, roughly the same electricity consumption as a small city.
Security analysts warn that the increased demand for energy will put a strain on Australia’s energy resources, potentially leading to higher electricity bills for households and businesses. “The environmental impact of AI infrastructure cannot be ignored,” said one analyst. “We need to ensure that we are investing in sustainable energy sources to power these data centres and mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Law enforcement insiders also raise concerns about the potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes. “As AI becomes more widespread, we need to ensure that we have the necessary safeguards in place to prevent it from being used for criminal activity,” said one insider.
Industry observers believe that the shift towards AI as a utility will have significant economic and social consequences for Australia. “This will change the way we live and work,” said one observer. “We need to ensure that we are prepared for the challenges and opportunities that come with it.”
As the world moves towards an AI-powered future, one thing is certain – the impact will be felt across the globe. Whether it’s through increased energy consumption, new job opportunities, or concerns over security and privacy, AI is set to change the way we live and work. The question is, are we ready for it?