AI’s Growing Power Problem, Amazon’s Satellite Push, and a Human Victory Over Machines

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison unpack the quiet rollout of ChatGPT 5.0, which is now powering user interactions without most people realizing it. They discuss its improved accuracy, reduced hallucinations, and dynamic model-switching capabilities. The conversation shifts to the massive power demands of AI, with projections showing it could consume 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028—outpacing even Bitcoin mining. Sam and Jay challenge the “net zero” narrative, arguing that carbon credits and offsets are more about taxes than true environmental responsibility, and they weigh the tough tradeoffs society may face between air conditioning, electric vehicles, AI, and cryptocurrency.

The show also covers Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a $140 million satellite facility aimed at competing with SpaceX’s Starlink to deliver global broadband. Jay shares his real-world experience using Starlink for years, its strengths and occasional dropouts, and how competition could drive prices down and service up. Wrapping up, the hosts highlight a rare “human beats AI” story where a Polish programmer narrowly outperformed an OpenAI model in a grueling 10-hour coding contest—while noting that such victories may be short-lived as AI rapidly advances.