Peter Rhodes on reading, writing and the “dirty little secret” behind Artificial Intelligence

For example, the latest search programs using Artificial Intelligence can consume 30 times more energy than a standard search engine, and the global data industry is already gobbling up five per cent of the world's power production. Boffins are creating AI machines which, in theory, could one day solve pollution and find cures for cancer. They are brilliant devices - but can we afford to switch them on?