Generative AI Is an Engineering Disaster

LLMs are consuming 70% of the world's high-end memory, doubling hard drive prices in two years and threatening to wipe out entry-level PCs by 2028. The author argues this isn't just rapid adoption—it's shockingly inefficient engineering compared to past tech booms like streaming or smartphones. The post cites Gartner forecasts and multiple reports but doesn't provide direct energy-efficiency comparisons.

Why it matters: A well-sourced Atlantic commentary that makes the AI efficiency problem tangible with hardware pricing, memory stats, and power anecdotes. Lacks direct efficiency benchmarks, but the argument carries weight and conversation value.