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If all graphics cards (GPUs) were removed, both AI and cryptocurrency industries would face serious challenges, as GPUs are integral to many of their core processes. Here’s what would likely happen to each:
AI Industry

Slowed Development: GPUs power most deep learning models, handling the vast parallel processing needed for training neural networks. Without GPUs, processing speeds would drop dramatically, making it much harder to train complex models. Researchers might pivot to CPU-based architectures, but these are less efficient and slower for large-scale models.

Shift to Specialized Hardware: Companies might accelerate the development and deployment of specialized AI hardware, like TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) and FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays). While these can perform well in some scenarios, they’re typically less versatile and more expensive than GPUs for general AI tasks.

Increased Cost and Energy Use: CPUs or other available processors could fill the gap, but they’d likely lead to higher energy costs and slower compute times, limiting the ability to scale.

Cryptocurrency Industry

Mining Difficulties: Cryptocurrency mining for coins like Ethereum has relied on GPUs for their efficiency in performing the repetitive computations necessary for mining. Without GPUs, miners would be forced to rely on CPUs, which are much slower for mining, or on ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), which are efficient but costly and inflexible.

Potential Rise in ASIC Use: In the absence of GPUs, demand for ASICs would likely increase. However, ASICs are expensive to produce and maintain, and they're designed for specific tasks, so they lack the flexibility of GPUs. This could centralize mining around those who can afford ASIC setups.

Decreased Decentralization: Many individual miners would find it uneconomical to mine with CPUs or buy costly ASICs, potentially consolidating mining power to fewer, larger entities that can afford specialized hardware.

Overall Impact

Removing GPUs would be a setback for both AI and cryptocurrency but likely wouldn’t halt progress. Instead, it would drive a shift toward alternative hardware solutions, but at increased costs and reduced efficiency. It could also catalyze the development of entirely new computational approaches, like quantum computing, though such options are far from mainstream readiness.

The Future of AI & Crypto Without GPUs ?

OUTLINE:

00:00:00 GPUs in AI and Crypto
00:01:05 A Setback for Innovation?
00:01:33 CPUs, FPGAs, and ASICs
00:01:58 Increased Costs and Reduced Efficiency
00:03:04 A Glimmer of Hope on the Horizon
00:04:12 A Distant Reality
00:05:08 A New Era of Algorithms?
00:06:09 Proof-of-Work vs. Proof-of-Stake
00:07:17 A Silver Lining?
00:08:20 Navigating the Crossroads
00:09:18 Embracing the Unknown