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人工智能的大发展带来了短缺问题

The Great Development of AI Brings Shortage Problems

Script

Hello everyone, and welcome to today's Chinese podcast.

Today we are going to discuss a very important piece of news.

This news comes from the famous Washington Post.

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The author of the article is named Shira Ovide.

She tells us that artificial intelligence is changing the world.

However, this change has also brought about some big problems.

Currently, technology companies are spending money like crazy.

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In order to develop AI, they have invested 700 billion US dollars.

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700 billion US dollars is a very huge number.

So much money has led to shortages in other places.

This is the core topic we are going to talk about today.

First, we want to talk about construction and electricians.

Tech companies need to build many huge data centers.

Inside data centers, there are many, many computers.

These computers need a very large amount of electricity to run.

Therefore, building these centers requires many electricians.

Now, it is very hard to find available electricians on the market.

Because electricians have all been hired away by tech companies to work.

If you want to fix a light in your home, you might not find anyone.

Or, other construction projects have to stop.

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This is all because AI has "snatched" the workers away.

Secondly, we want to talk about the price of smartphones.

You might discover that phones are becoming more and more expensive.

Why is this? The reason is also related to AI.

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The development of AI requires many advanced computer chips.

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The factories that manufacture chips are very busy right now.

Tech companies have bought up most of the high-grade chips.

This causes the price of chips to become very high.

Because the cost is high, the price of phones also goes up.

This situation might continue for several years.

Thirdly, we want to look at the impact on innovation.

In the past, investors liked all kinds of new ideas.

But now, all the money is flowing towards AI.

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Other innovation projects find it hard to get investment.

This is as if other projects are being "starved to death".

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This is disadvantageous for the comprehensive development of science.

We need progress in medicine, energy, and other various aspects.

If only AI is developing, the world will lose balance.

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Finally, let us summarize today's content.

The AI spending of 700 billion dollars is indeed very astonishing.

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It has brought technological progress, but also brought shortages.

We have seen a shortage of electricians and phones becoming expensive.

We have also seen that other innovation projects lack funds.

This is a complex problem that needs our attention.

We hope that in the future tech companies can find a better balance.

Thank you everyone for listening to today's program, see you next time.

Key Vocabulary

人工智能réngōng zhìnéngArtificial Intelligence (AI)

Noun. Often abbreviated as AI. Refers to computer systems that can perform tasks requiring human intelligence.

短缺duǎnquēshortage

Noun/Verb. A state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.

科技kējìtechnology

Noun. Short for 科学技术 (science and technology). Common collocation: 科技公司 (tech company).

投入tóurùto invest / to put into

Verb. To put money, effort, or time into something. Similar to 'investment' but often used as a verb here.

数据中心shùjù zhōngxīndata center

Noun. A facility used to house computer systems. Measure word: 个 (gè) or 座 (zuò).

电工diàngōngelectrician

Noun. A person whose job is to install and maintain electrical equipment. Measure word: 位 (wèi) or 个 (gè).

芯片xīnpiànchip (computer)

Noun. A small piece of semiconductor material used to make an integrated circuit. Measure word: 枚 (méi) or 个 (gè).

成本chéngběncost

Noun. The amount of money needed to produce something.

创新chuàngxīninnovation

Noun/Verb. To bring forth new ideas or methods; new idea/method.

投资tóuzīinvestment / to invest

Noun/Verb. Money put into a business to make a profit.

平衡pínghéngbalance

Noun/Verb. A state where different elements are equal or in correct proportions.

资金zījīnfunds / capital

Noun. Money available for use in business.

Grammar Points

Subject + 为了 + Purpose + Action

Indicates doing an action 'in order to' achieve a purpose.

他们为了发展AI,投入了七千亿美元。

Subject + 被 + Agent + Verb + Complement

Passive voice marker indicating the subject receives the action done by the agent.

因为电工都被科技公司请去工作了。

这就好像其他的项目被“饿死”了一样。

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement

Used to emphasize the disposal or manipulation of an object by the subject.

这都是因为AI把工人都“抢”走了。

科技公司买走了大部分的高级芯片。

越来越 + Adjective

Indicates a change over time, meaning 'more and more'.

你们可能会发现,手机变得越来越贵。

导致 + Negative Result

Means 'to lead to' or 'to cause', usually followed by an undesirable outcome.

这么多的钱,导致了其他地方的短缺。

这导致芯片的价格变得非常高。

Proper Nouns

华盛顿邮报Huáshèngdùn YóubàoThe Washington Post希拉·奥维德Xīlā · ÀowéidéShira Ovide

Sources

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