I've never been so conflicted about a technology

Of course, I’m referring to AI (LLMs, specifically). A few weeks ago, I downloaded Cursor, an AI-based code editor, and I’m astonished at how good it is. I asked it a few questions about this blog’s codebase, and it responded quickly with detailed and accurate answers. I then prompted it to make a few changes, and it did what I wanted with minimal effort. I’ve since deleted Cursor because I already pay for GitHub Copilot. I primarily use Copilot as an advanced auto-complete tool, and it’s particularly helpful for handling repetitive tasks. There’s no doubt in my mind that AI can boost a developer’s productivity. It’s not perfect, and letting it write code for you has its pitfalls, but if you know your stuff, it can really speed things up. It’s easy to see how AI is going to make game-changing advances in all kind of industries. It really is an impressive technology. But there are huge downsides. Firstly, there’s the environmental impact. Models require massive amounts of electric ... Read full article.