Quién es Jianwei Xun y cuánta agua gasta, por Isabel Garcia Pagan
Quién es Jianwei Xun y cuánta agua gasta, por Isabel Garcia Pagan
The article exposes the hidden environmental cost of artificial intelligence, revealing that generating a single image can consume between two and five liters of water. This statistic, highlighted by Elon Musk’s Grok, underscores the substantial physical resource footprint required for digital outputs, challenging the perception that AI operations are immaterial or environmentally neutral. To illustrate the power and potential deception of these systems, the text describes the "Jianwei Xun" hoax, where collaborative AI generated a nonexistent philosopher whose fake book was initially acclaimed by prestigious media and academics. This scenario mirrors the Sokal affair but demonstrates how modern generative models can construct coherent, persuasive narratives that trick experts, thereby shaping public discourse and cultural legitimacy through algorithmic output. This case is highly relevant to open data because it raises urgent questions about the transparency of algorithmic decision-making and the provenance of digital content. As AI increasingly influences journalism and academia, understanding the resource intensity and reliability of these tools is crucial. Open data principles demand that the underlying mechanisms, costs, and biases of such systems be visible and auditable to prevent manipulation and ensure informed public debate about technology’s societal impact.
Source: lavanguardia.comPublished on 2025-04-08