https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/firefox-ecosia-partnership/
Illustration of overlapping browser windows with Ecosia’s logo, a tree graphic, Firefox’s logo, and the text “Together for a better web,” alongside a search bar with a green cursor.
Your tech choices matter more than ever. That’s why at Mozilla, we believe in empowering users to make informed decisions that align with their values. In that spirit, we’re excited to announce our partnership with Ecosia, a search engine that prioritizes sustainability, and social impact.
Did you know you could choose the search engine of your choice right from your Firefox URL bar? Whether you prioritize privacy, climate protection, or simply want a search experience tailored to your preferences, we’ve got you covered.
Ecosia goes beyond data protection by addressing environmental concerns. Every search made through the search engine contributes to tree-planting projects worldwide, helping to combat deforestation and regenerate the planet. Ecosia planted over 215 million trees, across the planet biodiversity hotspots, making a tangible difference in the fight against climate change. Just like Mozilla, they are committed to creating a better internet, and world, for everyone.
Together, Mozilla, Firefox and Ecosia are contributing to a web that is more open and inclusive, but above all — one where you can make an informed choice about what tech you use and why. Your tech choices make a difference.
As Firefox and Mozilla continue to champion user empowerment and innovation, we invite you to join us in shaping a web that makes the world better. Together, let’s make a positive impact — one search at a time.
I love the irony in how ecosia brands itself an environmentally responsible organisation while hosting a chat bot on it’s search page, burning 10x the energy of regular search. Their chat bot even gaslights me when I ask about this by telling me how the energy consumption for “AI” technologies is actually highly variable, and I should check my own carbon footprint first xD. At this point, both organisations are so utterly self deluded, they should get on like a house on fire. Literally!
Why the F is this lie propagated so much in Lemmy? Using “10x the energy as a google search” is a miniscule amount. You get like 150 queries for 1hr of watching TV. It’s not a big deal compared to anything. Hell, using a hairdryer for 10 mins will get you a shitload of queries too, yet people don’t go up in arms against them.
The chatbot is right. Your carbon footprint is humongous compared to it.
This is true for one single search. But then when you run a huge operation like a search engine provider, multiplying energy consumption by 10 is suddenly fucked up. Google suddenly using ten times more energy is not a “miniscule amount”.
Via NPR
Electricity is one thing, water is another. The whole thing is an environmental disaster and Ecosia has zero credibility as far as I’m concerned.
It is a miniscule amount still… You cannot look at the total consumption and say “it’s too much!” without comparing to the various other usages. That’ll only show that it is popular and nothing else.
Also, bullshit on the lightbulb, unless we are talking LEDs which are taking like 20W and are the most efficient a light source has ever been. And even that is 10x less than claimed at least. A 100W regular lightbulb, for 20 mins is 33Wh. A ChatGPT query is 0.001kWh, which is 1Wh, 33x less than what they claim.
That’s what I mean. Do the math yourself instead of relying on the sensationalist articles. What uses a lot of power, is the training, that is done once / rarely. Querying is barely a blip compared to other usages. Hell, my small factory / shop where I make medical equipment has a CNC, tiny injection molder and a dehumidifier running 24/7. I got 2MWh last year, which made like 500 small medical devices. It’d be enough for an entire large IT company querying the hell out of ChatGPT for development.
Millions of people using AI means the technology is useful to people. Just as google search is useful to people. Hell, a person/s (working in shifts) using a PC 24/7 to provide the same chatbot experience would use way much more power to do it, than the chatbot did, assuming the need is just one agent. Multiply it to something popular where hundreds are needed, and you get a ridiculous amount. For context - my PC, with a monitor, speakers, keyboard mouse etc, uses 90 - 150W sitting iddle, with 16 chrome tabs open, when I type up this comment - according to my UPS.
AI deserves a lot of shit for a lot of things. Electricity use is not one of them.