Will Richardson argues that businesses waste money and energy by defaulting to massive AI models for simple tasks. He identifies four hidden costs: oversized models, unnecessary computing power, adding AI features just because they exist, and the carbon footprint. Smaller, lighter models can do the same work for far less.
The size of the AI model you are using. Most businesses default to the biggest, most powerful AI for every task, even simple ones. That is like using a tractor to mow a lawn. A smaller, lighter tool would do the job for a fraction of the energy. The fourth is what I call AI for the sake of AI. Features added because the technology exists, not because they do anything useful. Every one of those is a hidden cost on your books and a hidden line on your carbon footprints. The good news? Every single one of these is fixable.
