Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Thread

Here it comes, whether we like it or not


According to an OpenAI internal analysis, just the first $1 trillion invested in AI infrastructure could result in more than 5% in additional GDP growth over a 3-year period.
An analysis commissioned by OpenAI of our own plans to build AI infrastructure in the US—with six Stargate sites already underway in Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and more to come—finds that our plans over the next five years will require an estimated 20% of the existing workforces in skilled trades such as specialized electricians and mechanics. The country will need many more electricians, mechanics, metal and ironworkers, carpenters, plumbers and other construction trade workers than we currently have. Americans will have new opportunities to train into these jobs and gain valuable, portable expertise.

In pursuit of its goal to overtake the US and lead the world on AI by 2030, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has built real momentum in energy production...

OpenAI was pleased to see the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan recognize how critical AI is to America’s national interests, and how maintaining the country’s lead in AI depends on harnessing our national resources: chips, data, talent and energy. We also were pleased to see that last week, the Department of Energy moved to streamline state-by-state processes that have become one of the biggest barriers to building the energy infrastructure required for AI. We want to recognize the work of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to engage stakeholders across AI to inform the Administration’s policymaking.

OpenAI is committed to doing our part. Through our Stargate initiative, the six sites we’ve already announced bring Stargate to nearly seven GW of planned capacity and over $400 billion in investment over the next three years. This puts us on a clear path to securing the full $500 billion, 10 GW commitment we announced in January by the end of 2025—ahead of schedule. We continue to evaluate additional sites across the US.
In 2026 and beyond, we’ll build on that progress by strengthening the broader domestic supply chain—working with US suppliers and manufacturers to invest in the country’s onshore production of critical components for these data centers. We will also develop additional strategic partnerships and investments in American manufacturing to specifically advance our work in AI robotics and devices.

We see this reindustrialization as a foundational way for the US to “predistribute” the economic benefits of the Intelligence Age from the very start. As with the wheel, the printing press, the combustion engine, electricity, the transistor, and the internet, if we make it possible for the US to occupy the center of this Age, it will lift all Americans regardless of where they live, not just cohorts in certain parts of the country.
 
It's a frenzy to find power:

Faced with multi-year delays to secure grid power, US data center operators are deploying aeroderivative gas turbines — effectively retired commercial aircraft engines bolted into trailers — to keep AI infrastructure online.

OpenAI has a huge project in Texas, as part of the Stargate project.

Nothing like strapping 30 jet engines together to keep things humming along. I'd hate to be living in a neighborhood next to that.

All ran on diesel or gas delivered by truck.
 
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are there enough skilled American citizens to do all this trade work being required? Will these AI companies be paying top dollar to lure this talent pool away from fixing and building houses etc? Who’s going to fix my house repairs above /beyond my DIY skills at a price that doesn’t drain my savings and investments? There is already a large labor shortage in the trades. Friend of ours had to pay $10k just to have their front door replaced. Probably was a $2-3k job just 5 years ago.
 
are there enough skilled American citizens to do all this trade work being required? Will these AI companies be paying top dollar to lure this talent pool away from fixing and building houses etc? Who’s going to fix my house repairs above /beyond my DIY skills at a price that doesn’t drain my savings and investments? There is already a large labor shortage in the trades. Friend of ours had to pay $10k just to have their front door replaced. Probably was a $2-3k job just 5 years ago.

Finding skilled workers to update my house has been a major challenge. Most companies now only want to do large jobs. Had two guys come out and not even give me an estimate.
It's only going to get worse. I'm skeptical of anyone that gives a fair price these days because from my experience the quality is junk. It's constant micromanaging and reminding. I'm not in the trades, but seems like just developing a reliable, quality business and you could just mop up competition. Taking the middle estimate no longer applies (middle of 3). Good luck getting three and your best bet is taking the highest estimate if you want to increase chance of quality work.
 
Finding skilled workers to update my house has been a major challenge. Most companies now only want to do large jobs. Had two guys come out and not even give me an estimate.
It's only going to get worse. I'm skeptical of anyone that gives a fair price these days because from my experience the quality is junk. It's constant micromanaging and reminding. I'm not in the trades, but seems like just developing a reliable, quality business and you could just mop up competition. Taking the middle estimate no longer applies (middle of 3). Good luck getting three and your best bet is taking the highest estimate if you want to increase chance of quality work.
100%. My solution to this is to learn home building/maintenance as a hobby. It's taken just 2 or 3 years of haphazardly "noodling" on the subject to gain competence. I collect old construction books from the 1960s and 1970s and watch lots of YouTube videos on the subject. Then periodically I'll build a partition wall, section of fence, or a shed on my own just to get experience from the process and learn from my mistakes. Then when I have a bigger project I'll hire local construction workers by the hour with the understanding that I'm the "foreman/contractor" and that I'm in charge, yet I require and value their input. Works out well.

The biggest thing I've learned is to slow down and not be in a hurry.
 
100%. My solution to this is to learn home building/maintenance as a hobby. It's taken just 2 or 3 years of haphazardly "noodling" on the subject to gain competence. I collect old construction books from the 1960s and 1970s and watch lots of YouTube videos on the subject. Then periodically I'll build a partition wall, section of fence, or a shed on my own just to get experience from the process and learn from my mistakes. Then when I have a bigger project I'll hire local construction workers by the hour with the understanding that I'm the "foreman/contractor" and that I'm in charge, yet I require and value their input. Works out well.

The biggest thing I've learned is to slow down and not be in a hurry.
Agree, especially about the slow down part. I find if you have zero knowledge about something in the trades, but do lots of research and stay patient and just make baby-steps of progress, over time, you can accomplish impressive home projects and improvements. But you do need to have time and focus. While I was teleworking a few years ago I spent from April until September building a firepit in my yard. My yard is on a steep grade, so I had to dig into an embankment with digging irons, shovels etc to make it level, then put in retaining walls, proper drainage etc. I’d take 10-15 min breaks a couple times during the work day to dig it out, then spent about 1 hr each morning before work (and before the summer heat) to put in the retaining wall. I previously had no masonry skill at all but alot of YouTube and reading and I accomplished my “Shawshank escape” project in about 5-6 months of a little daily work.
 
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