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AI capex is so big that it's affecting economic statistics

(paulkedrosky.com)
338 points throw0101c | 2 comments | 18 Jul 25 19:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.504s | source
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jonas21 ◴[18 Jul 25 21:09 UTC] No.44609857[source]▶
I don't know... 1.2% of GDP just doesn't seem that extreme to me. Certainly nowhere near "eating the economy" level compared to other transformative technologies or programs like:

- Apollo program: 4%

- Railroads: 6% (mentioned by the author)

- Covid stimulus: 27%

- WW2 defense: 40%

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zachlatta ◴[18 Jul 25 21:14 UTC] No.44609903[source]▶
We are only 2 years in! 1.2% of GDP is enormous! The fact that we can even make any of these comparisons is stunning.
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dude250711 ◴[18 Jul 25 22:41 UTC] No.44610587[source]▶
It's hard for me to tell what is a bigger misspending of money - LLMs or Apollo... At least I have a direct access to LLMs. Not sure I would need a direct access to moon rocks though.
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UncleOxidant ◴[19 Jul 25 01:42 UTC] No.44611780[source]▶
It seems quite plausible that if we hadn't done the Apollo program that we'd probably be about 10 to 20 years behind in semiconductors right now (not to mention other technologies).
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1. roenxi ◴[19 Jul 25 01:49 UTC] No.44611822[source]▶
When you say "we" I assume you are from Taiwan? Good for you people, but it isn't much of a win for US industrial policy when it pushes Taiwan to the ascendant position and seems to be locking in Asian dominance of tech manufacturing.
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2. UncleOxidant ◴[19 Jul 25 04:20 UTC] No.44612563[source]▶
No, "we" as in humanity. Apollo funding gave the development of integrated circuits a boost. Sure, we would've developed integrated circuits eventually anyway but it would've taken longer to get there.