AI’s hidden costs exposed, electricity subsidies prop up billion-dollar industry

Artificial intelligence is not as cheap as it seems. The reality behind AI’s rapid expansion is a massive web of government subsidies, hidden energy costs, and taxpayer-funded incentives that keep the industry running. While users pay a subscription fee for AI services, the actual cost of running these systems is far higher, with electricity consumption alone exceeding what most users pay.

AI models require enormous computing power, with data centers consuming as much electricity as small cities. The energy demands of AI training and inference have skyrocketed, forcing tech companies to rely on government subsidies to offset costs. The Inflation Reduction Act alone has funneled hundreds of billions into clean energy projects, many of which directly benefit AI infrastructure.

The cost of running AI is not sustainable without subsidies. A single AI-generated response can require thousands of calculations, consuming significant amounts of electricity. The price of maintaining these systems is far beyond what users pay, meaning taxpayers are unknowingly funding the AI revolution through energy incentives and federal grants.

This situation mirrors the early days of Uber, when rides were cheaper than taxis due to investor subsidies. Once the funding dried up, prices surged, and the illusion of affordability collapsed. AI is following the same trajectory, with government-backed incentives keeping costs artificially low. When subsidies inevitably shrink, users will face higher fees, restricted access, and potential service cutbacks.

The tech industry is not transparent about the true cost of AI. Companies continue to expand data centers, consuming unprecedented amounts of electricity, while policymakers push green energy initiatives that indirectly support AI infrastructure. The long-term consequences of this model remain uncertain, but one thing is clear – AI is not cheap, and taxpayers are footing the bill.

https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/reversing-ira-subsidies-will-save-taxpayers-bundles/

https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/budgetary-cost-inflation-reduction-acts-energy-subsidies

https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2025-01-17/us-clean-energy-tax-subsidies-to-cost-825-billion-over-10-years-cbo-says

Government’s pandemic relief turns into permanent tax burden for American families

The federal government handed out two rounds of $1000 stimulus checks during the pandemic, promising relief for struggling families. What most Americans did not realize was that these payments came with a hidden price tag that would haunt taxpayers for years.

The total cost of pandemic stimulus programs exceeded $931 billion, with funds distributed through three separate rounds of direct payments. While the checks provided short-term financial relief, the long-term consequences are now becoming clear. Each family is now on the hook for an estimated $20,152 per year, a staggering burden that stems from massive government spending, inflation, and rising interest payments on national debt.

Federal stimulus programs were not free money. The government financed these payments through debt issuance, increasing the national debt to $37 trillion. Interest payments on this debt have skyrocketed, consuming over $1 trillion annually, forcing taxpayers to cover the cost through higher taxes and reduced government services.

The impact of these policies is felt in everyday expenses. Inflation surged following the stimulus rollout, driving up the cost of housing, groceries, and energy. The average American household now pays $11,400 more per year for basic necessities compared to pre-pandemic levels. The government’s attempt to provide relief has instead created a cycle of financial strain, leaving families worse off than before.

Despite these consequences, policymakers continue to push new spending programs, further increasing the financial burden on taxpayers. The question remains whether Americans will demand fiscal responsibility or continue to absorb the cost of government mismanagement.

https://www.pandemicoversight.gov/data-interactive-tools/data-stories/update-three-rounds-stimulus-checks-see-how-many-went-out-and

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-106044

https://www.cnbc.com/select/second-stimulus-check-600-direct-payments-approved/

Sources say

Trump Urges GOP To Raise Taxes On The Wealthy To Fund Economic Agenda: Report

President Donald Trump is urging Republican lawmakers to raise taxes on some of the wealthiest Americans as part of his sweeping new economic package - a move that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says he's 'in favor' of doing.

According to individuals familiar with the discussions, Trump is pushing for the creation of a new 39.6 percent tax bracket for individuals earning at least $2.5 million annually or couples making $5 million. The current top rate stands at 37 percent. If enacted, the measure would restore the top marginal rate to its pre-2017 level, effectively rolling back a key piece of President Trump’s own first-term tax cuts.

According to Bloomberg, Trump made his case in a phone call Wednesday with House Speaker Mike Johnson, where he also reiterated support for ending the carried interest tax break - a longstanding benefit claimed by private equity and venture capital managers, one source said.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-urges-gop-raise-taxes-wealthy-fund-economic-agenda-report

21 Armed and Violent Drug Traffickers and Gang Members from Spokane Area Facing Federal Drug and Firearm Charges

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/21-armed-and-violent-drug-traffickers-and-gang-members-spokane-area-facing-federal

Federal Charges Filed Against Former Local School Music Teacher and Filipino Man for Sexually Exploiting Children

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/federal-charges-filed-against-former-local-school-music-teacher-and-filipino-man

19 Members of a Drug Trafficking Ring Indicted in Cleveland

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/19-members-drug-trafficking-ring-indicted-cleveland

Former Altana Federal Credit Union employee sentenced to more than 1 year in prison for embezzlement and ordered to pay over $65,000 in restitution

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/former-altana-federal-credit-union-employee-sentenced-more-1-year-prison-embezzlement-0

Founder Of Celsius Sentenced To 12 Years For Fraud And Market Manipulation

Alexander Mashinsky Deceived Customers About Celsius’s Financial Stability and Rigged the Price of Celsius’s Crypto Token, Leading to Billions in Losses

Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ALEXANDER MASHINSKY, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Celsius Network LLC and their affiliated entities (collectively, “Celsius”), was sentenced to 12 years for committing commodities fraud and securities fraud at Celsius. MASHINSKY previously pled guilty on December 3, 2024, before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “Alexander Mashinsky targeted retail investors with promises that he would keep their “digital assets” safer than a bank, when in fact he used those assets to place risky bets and to line his own pockets. In the end, Mashinsky made tens of millions of dollars while his customers lost billions. America’s investors deserve better. The case for tokenization and the use of digital assets is strong but it is not a license to deceive. The rules against fraud still apply, and the SDNY will hold those who flout them accountable for their crimes.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

Celsius, a crypto asset platform, offered customers “rewards” on deposited assets, secured loans, and custody services. Marketing itself as the “safest place for your crypto,” Celsius encouraged customers to “unbank” themselves by transferring crypto assets to its platform. Celsius’s primary offering, “Earn” program, promised to deploy customer assets to generate investment returns. Celsius also provided “Custody” and “Borrow” programs, the latter allowing customers to obtain loans by posting crypto assets as collateral. MASHINSKY, as CEO, directly marketed Celsius to retail customers globally. Throughout his tenure, he repeatedly misrepresented key aspects of Celsius’s business and finances to attract customers and retain their assets. His false claims covered the safety of Celsius’s yield-generating activities, its profitability, the sustainability of high rewards rates, and the risks associated with depositing crypto assets on the platform. As MASHINSKY portrayed Celsius as secure, the platform grew exponentially. By the fall of 2021, Celsius had become one of the largest crypto platforms in the world, holding approximately $25 billion in assets at its peak.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founder-celsius-sentenced-12-years-fraud-and-market-manipulation

>>23010405

gingers don't count

>>23010430

>🇺🇸 DOGE Removes 11 Million "Immortals" from Social Security

>Elon Musk's team eradicated nearly 11 million suspiciously old individuals from Social Security files in 7 weeks, planning to delete 1.4 million more inactive accounts. The focus was on "living" Americans aged 120-159, notably decreasing numbers from 3.5 million to 192,933 in the 140-149 age group. This cleanup underscores the outdated systems DOGE inherited.

>Source: @DOGE

>Apr 25, 2025 · 12:30 AM UTC

>https://twitter.com/AntiWokeWar_/status/1915564007236227102

Actor Michael Pitt charged with sex abuse, assault of ex-girlfriend in New York

Actor Michael Pitt, known for his TV roles on Boardwalk Empire and Dawson's Creek, is accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, choking her, and attacking her with a cinder block and a piece of lumber at his New York City home, according to a grand jury indictment.

Pitt, 44, whose lawyers denied the allegations, was arrested on Friday on nine counts, including first-degree sexual abuse, criminal sexual acts, assault, attempted assault and strangulation.

The indictment cites four incidents between April 2020 and August 2021 at Pitt's home in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez's office declined to comment on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) beyond the allegations listed in the indictment.

Pitt's lawyer, Jason Goldman, said he already had exonerating evidence and expected the case to be dismissed.

"Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt — an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes — can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unreliable individual," Goldman said in a text message to The Associated Press.

He added, "In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, from a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual relationship."

https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/actor-michael-pitt-charged-with-sex-abuse-assault-of-exgirlfriend-in-new-york/4cf1683d-e79a-45a2-bd27-8a54475ef3fd

>>23010474

>>23010515

Puppet Masters Pt 7