SMRTR AIMay 20, 2026Hacker News

How Many Questions Can the World Afford to Ask AI?

SMRTR summary

Every AI query has a real energy cost, and researchers are now calculating how many questions our planet can actually afford. By applying physics principles alongside economic analysis, they estimate that AI infrastructure could support roughly 2,200 questions per person daily by 2028 — but cheaper AI triggers higher demand, straining copper supplies and power grids. With resources finite, they argue humanity needs deliberate policies deciding which questions are worth asking.

SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Hacker News.

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