More or Less: Behind the Stats - Does a single AI query use a bottle of water?
We’re living through boom-times for Artificial Intelligence, with more and more of us using AI assistants like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Grok and Copilot to do basic research and writing tasks.
But what is the environmental impact of these technologies?
Many listeners have got in touch with More or Less to ask us to investigate various claims about the energy and water use of AI.
One claim in particular has caught your attention - the idea that the equivalent of a small bottle of drinking water is consumed by computer processors every time you ask an AI a question, or get it to write a simple email.
So, where does that claim come from, and is it true?
Reporter: Paul Connolly Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Donald McDonald Editor: Richard Vadon
Audio Mises Wire - How Psychology Is Catching Up with the Reality of Human Action
Modern psychology has been at odds with the praxeology of the Austrian School, as psychologists have tended to see humans as passive and reactive, while Austrians view human action as purposeful. Recent developments in the field might change that narrative.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/how-psychology-catching-reality-human-action
Audio Mises Wire - Four Reasons Why College Degrees Are Becoming Useless
If education and career skills are what you want, a college or university may be a waste of your time and money.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/four-reasons-why-college-degrees-are-becoming-useless
Audio Mises Wire - Busting the “Free College” Myth
If New Yorkers wanted to help students by paying for their tuition, they would have already done so on their own.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/busting-free-college-myth
Audio Mises Wire - America’s Syrian Civil War
In Syria the damage is done, and future generations will continue to suffer from the cruel folly of those convinced they know how to run everyone else’s lives.
Original article: https://mises.org/power-market/americas-syrian-civil-war
Audio Mises Wire - An Honneth Effort
In this week's Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon takes on Alex Honneth's The Working Sovereign. While Dr. Gordon acknowledges that the author gives an "Honneth" effort, his logic and grasp of the world of work fall way short of being convincing.
Original article: https://mises.org/friday-philosophy/honneth-effort
The Indicator from Planet Money - Nigeria notches new highs, Magic gathers millions, and crypto climbs
On today's episode: Nigeria gets a GDP surprise, Magic the Gathering mutes tariff impact for Hasbro, and Bitcoin reaches record highs following the passage of the GENIUS Act.
Related episodes:
How stable is Stablecoin? (Apple / Spotify)
Episode 609: The Curse Of The Black Lotus
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Audio Mises Wire - MMTers Love When Governments Burn Money
Even when MMT advocates are correct that colonial governments at times burned money after receiving it for tax revenues, they still manage to get both the history and the causes wrong.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/mmters-love-when-governments-burn-money
