Would you really give up ChatGPT to shut down data centers? Tech CEO highlights the hypocrisy of some AI critics

A recent trend has emerged, with critics of data centers and AI seemingly contradicting themselves by continuing to use the technology. Verb CEO Cyrus Beschloss pointed out this apparent hypocrisy during a CNBC event, stating that those who claim to be against data centers and AI in general are actually using these technologies. Beschloss emphasized that the decision to shut down data centers or lose access to ChatGPT would likely not be as simple as critics make it seem.

Verb is a US data marketplace, allowing individuals to earn money by selling access to their personal data to companies for AI training and other purposes. Users have the option to share their information and set a minimum selling price. The company currently has around 25,000 users, with an expected growth to approximately one million within a year.

Public opinion towards AI has become increasingly divided, with more people expressing concern than excitement about the technology. The potential negative effects of AI, such as mass job losses and human extinction, have led to widespread worry. Environmental concerns surrounding data centers, including their impact on health and noise pollution, have also become a hot-button issue.

Some companies have even attempted to incentivize locals to allow data center construction, but most residents still oppose these developments.

Despite these concerns, AI usage continues to surge. In June, ChatGPT became the fastest app to reach one billion monthly active users, surpassing Google Maps, which took around five years to achieve the same milestone. A survey conducted at the same time revealed that nearly half (49%) of US adults now utilize chatbots, a significant increase from the 33% who used them two years prior, with roughly one in four individuals using these tools daily.