> I think that's a good example, but I still don't understand the difference
> between "AI" and a regular automated process.

The decision tree for an "automated process" would be a lot simpler.  Like
it monitors for one things and then makes decision A or B based on the
findings.  Today's "AI" would have a much more complicated decision tree.

What you are calling an "automated process" might very well be an example
of simple AI, or what people used to call "AI."  What most talking heads
mean when they say "AI" today is stuff that, in the past, would have been
considered science fiction (like self-driving cars, or the IBM Watson
computer that played on Jeopardy).

>  RL> Oh, like electric cars?

> Yea. I wonder what would happen if everybody had a charging station in their
> garage, and they all charged their cars at the same time (like overnight.)

Probably a similar issue.  The difference, though, would be that a charging
station should pull a consistent current while the car is hooked up because
it is only doing one process (charging the car).

If you plugged that car into an "AI outlet," it might charge the car while
performing diagnostics, updating the car's onboard computer, making
calculations re: mileage and other effenciencies, using the GPS data to
create a map, all while also dealing with any issues it might run into
while performing these tasks.

Even then, one "AI outlet" by itself probably causes no harm, but a large
city full of them (or a data center full of machines doing similar things)
just might.

"AI outlet" is something I just made up, BTW, but it wouldn't surprise me
if such things are not on someone's radar.

> But there are webservers doing automated processes constantly (the servers
re
> always in use.) Like (for example) when this BBS polls the Fido hub for mail.
> Some sysops have their BBS polling for mail every 5 seconds. And it's not
> causing any blackouts. But (for example) the server that hosts Google's AI
> assistant can cause blackouts? I just don't get it. I'll probably never
> understand it.

Those are all simple processes using simpler hardware.  If the BBSes were
all running on equipment meant for AI processing, and were actually using
the equipment to its potential, that would be the difference.

I am not so sure that the danger is blackouts as much as it is ruining your
home appliances and possibly starting fires.

It is like what Ron said in a reply before this one... you have to imagine
processes that would cause your BBS PC to run at 100% for several days.
That is what AI machines are built for, and they are built with high-end,
more powerful and power-hungry processors.


 * SLMR 2.1a * Behind every good computer - is a jumble of wire.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux