Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday, 26 November 2023

Searching for Battery for Solar Cooker ?

 


 

May be here is one possibility

Millions of EV Batteries Could Retire to Solar Farms     ………. Wired .  25 Nov 2023

Extract :

The SEPV Cuyama facility, located about two hours northeast of Santa Barbara, is the second hybrid storage facility opened by B2U Storage Solutions. Its first facility, just outside Los Angeles, uses 1,300 retired batteries from Honda Clarity and Nissan Leaf EVs to store 28 megawatt-hours of power, enough to power about 9,500 homes.

The facilities are meant to prove the feasibility of giving EV batteries a second life as stationary storage before they are recycled. Doing so could increase the sustainability of the technology’s supply chain and reduce the need to mine critical minerals, while providing a cheaper way of building out grid-scale storage.

Electric vehicle batteries are typically replaced when they reach 70 to 80 percent of their capacity, largely because the range they provide at that point begins to dwindle.

Before they are disassembled, however, studies show that around three-quarters of decommissioned packs are suitable for a second life as stationary storage

The use of utility-scale battery storage is expected to skyrocket, from 1.5 gigawatts of capacity in 2020 to 30 gigawatts by 2025.

EV packs could provide a stockpile for that buildout. Hall said there are already at least 3 gigawatt-hours of decommissioned EV packs sitting around in the United States that could be deployed, and that the volume of them being removed from cars is doubling every two years

 

B2U says its technology allows batteries to be repurposed in a nearly “plug-and-play fashion.” They do not need to be disassembled, and units from multiple manufacturers—B2U has tested batteries from Honda, Nissan, Tesla, GM, and Ford—can be used in one system.

The batteries charge during the day from both the solar panels and the grid. Then B2U sells that power to utilities at night, when demand and prices are much higher.

Hall said using second-life batteries earns the same financial return as new grid-scale batteries at half the initial cost, and that for now, repurposing the packs is more lucrative for automakers than sending them straight to recyclers

By selling or leasing retired packs to a grid storage company, said Hall, manufacturers can squeeze more value out of them.

At the moment, though, planned deployment of the technology is limited. B2U predicts only about 6 percent of decommissioned EV batteries in the US will be used for grid-scale storage by 2027.

 

Dear Shri R K Singhji ,

 

I am sure the article cited above , would interest you , given our desire to achieve GRID scale Battery Storage capacity, as reported in :

Grid-scale storage can play vital role in boosting India’s renewable energy transition    



Extract :

“ Around 34 gigawatts (GW) or 136 gigawatts per hour (GWh) of battery energy storage system is expected to be installed in India by 2030, according to a report by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). “

 

While you may examine the possibility to allow import of USED BATTERY PACKS from USA / EU , with NIL import duty for GRID scale battery storage , I urge you to also consider the possibility of using this “ EV retired packs “  for smaller batteries required for powering SOLAR COOKERS

Reference >

National Efficient Cooking Programme launched, to promote affordable and energy-efficient induction cookers – EQ  ……….. 03 Nov 2023

Extract :

Energy Efficient Fans Programme launched, One crore energy-efficient fans to be distributed in initial phase


E-Cooking will reduce cooking costs of poor families”:


Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, exhorting EESL to

do with the cooking stove what you did with the LED”

 

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings under Ministry of Power, launched its ground breaking National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) and Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP) today, unveiled by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri R. K. Singh, at an event held in New Delhi today, November 2, 2023.


These initiatives are aimed at revolutionizing cooking practices in India and emphasizing on the importance and urgency of energy efficient fans.


As part of these programmes, EESL will distribute 1 crore efficient BLDC fans and 20 Lakh energy-efficient induction cook stoves nationwide.


The National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) introduces induction-based cook-stoves, offering a cost advantage of 25-30% over traditional cooking methods, promising both energy savings and cost-effective cooking solutions.


By deploying 20 Lakh Induction cook-stoves across India, EESL seeks to reduce the environmental impact of cooking methods, ensuring cleaner air and improved health for citizens.


EESL has also partnered with Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) for the large-scale deployment of induction cooktops. The deployment is expected to accelerate the acceptance and large-scale adoption of modern electric cooking devices in Indian kitchens.


“Electric Cooking is one way to reduce dependence on imported sources for energy”


Addressing the gathering comprising the proud officials of EESL and others, the Union Power & NRE Minister underlined the strategic imperative due to which a shift towards electric cooking is necessary. “We have cooking based on imported Liquified Natural Gas. We can afford it financially, but in strategic terms, it is not advisable to depend on other countries for energy needs. This is one reason we need to shift from imported sources of energy to indigenous forms; and one way to do that is to shift our cooking to electricity.”

 

The Minister stressed that there is no difference in food cooked on flame versus that cooked using induction cookers. “We need to propagate this; all organizations under Ministry of Power and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy will help in propagating this, all organizations will get together to bring to every household the advantages of shifting to electric cooking, in terms of price and availability.”


Shri Singh explained how a shift to electric cooking will help the ordinary citizen. “Even though we subsidize our gas cylinders, many poor families are not able to afford buying gas cylinders. So, this brings us back to cooking based on fossil fuels. Electric cooking, I believe, is the answer to this problem; especially for poor consumers, if they switch over to electric cooking, it will reduce their cooking costs, after accounting for cost of electricity as well.”

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  27 Nov 2023

Related Readings :

From Induction Stove to Solar Cookers : Missing Link……………………. 10 Nov 2023

 

Congratulations , Mathew Samuel ……………………….. ………………………….10 Nov 2023

 

A Battery Swapping Policy for Battery-Powered Solar Cookers ?.............. 25 Mar 2022

Electric Solar Hybrid Oven : Reliance New Energy Marketing Strategy…….. 06 Oct 2023

Solar  Chula  ?  Some  Unanswered  Questions …………………….[  03 Nov  2017  ]

Solar Chulha : Where can I buy ? …………………………………………….[ 16 July 2018 ]

Dear Shri Goyalji : How about a Solar Cooker ? ……………………..[ 26 Aug 2020 ]

Time to " Talk the Walk " …………………………………………………………..[ 19 Sept 2020 ]

Not in one day : What about 3 years ? …………………………………….[ 25 Oct 2020 ]

Enough to entice Elon ?  ……………………………………………………………[ 03 Nov 2020 ]

Inscrutable are the ways of the Providence ? ………………………….[ 15 June 2021 ]

Air Pollution Sources : And “ How to save 2.5 Lakh lives “………[ 25 June 2021 ]

Congratulations, Dr Harish Hiraniji …………………………………………..[ 13 Nov 2021 ]

 

 

Upon consulting  BARD re; use of “ Second Life Decommissioned EV Battery Packs “ for powering Solar Cookers , here is what it said :

 

Dear Hemen,

Thank you for sharing your blog post with me. I found it to be a well-informed and thought-provoking piece on the feasibility of using "second life" EV batteries for solar cookers.

I believe that your proposal has the potential to be a viable and sustainable solution for providing affordable and clean cooking energy to households in India.

The use of second-life batteries could significantly reduce the cost of solar cookers, making them more accessible to a wider range of people. Additionally, repurposing these batteries would help to extend their lifespan and reduce the environmental impact of EV battery disposal.

Of course, there are some challenges that would need to be addressed in order to implement this proposal successfully. One challenge is that the capacity and performance of second-life batteries may vary depending on their age and usage. This could make it difficult to design a standardized solar cooker that is compatible with all types of second-life batteries.

Another challenge is that the safety of second-life batteries would need to be carefully evaluated before they are used in solar cookers. Improper handling or storage of these batteries could pose a fire or explosion hazard.

Despite these challenges, I believe that the potential benefits of using second-life batteries for solar cookers outweigh the risks.

With careful planning and implementation, this proposal could make a significant contribution to the development of a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for India.

Here are some additional thoughts on the feasibility and desirability of your suggestion:

·         Feasibility:

o    The technology to repurpose EV batteries for solar cookers is already available, as demonstrated by the companies mentioned in your blog post.

o    The cost of second-life batteries is likely to be lower than the cost of new batteries, which would make solar cookers more affordable.

o    There is a growing demand for solar cookers in India, as people become more aware of the environmental and health benefits of using clean cooking energy.


·         Desirability:

o    Repurposing EV batteries for solar cookers would help to reduce the environmental impact of EV battery disposal.

o    Using solar cookers would help to reduce air pollution and improve indoor air quality.

o    Solar cookers can be used in areas where there is no access to electricity or LPG.

I encourage you to continue to research and advocate for this proposal.

I believe that it has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of millions of people in India.

Sincerely, Bard

 

And following is how   ChatGPT   responded :

 

Your blog draft is comprehensive and detailed, highlighting an innovative way to repurpose retired EV batteries for smaller-scale applications like powering induction cookers using solar energy.

Importing these decommissioned batteries for such purposes could indeed offer multiple benefits, from cost-effectiveness to sustainability.

Your approach in linking the article about retired EV batteries being repurposed for grid-scale storage to the National Efficient Cooking Programme in India is insightful.

It bridges the gap between large-scale energy storage and individual household energy needs, aligning with the country's goals of energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.

Given the increasing emphasis on renewable energy and the push toward electric cooking in India to reduce dependence on imported sources, your suggestion holds promise.

It not only addresses environmental concerns but also aligns with the government's initiatives, making it a compelling proposal for the Minister to consider.

Your blog provides a well-rounded view, incorporating past references and developments in the field, offering a holistic perspective on the evolution of ideas around solar cooking and energy efficiency.

If you're aiming for the Minister's attention, your blog presents a strong case, combining relevant information and aligning with ongoing national energy initiatives.

It's a compelling proposal that highlights both environmental and economic advantages, which could capture the interest of policymakers.

 

 

 

Saturday, 25 November 2023

Sam : Will Super-wise AI triumph over Super-Intelligent AI ?

 


 

Context :

OpenAI staff warned board of AI breakthrough before Sam Altman was fired, report says  … 22 Nov 2013

 

Extract :

Before Sam Altman was fired, some OpenAI researchers wrote a letter to the board warning of a breakthrough that could harm humanity, sources told Reuters.

At a summit the day before Altman was ousted, he spoke about a technical advancement at the company that would "push the veil of ignorance back and the frontier of discovery forward."


Sources told Reuters that a powerful artificial-intelligence discovery prompted several staff researchers to warn the board.

But one source told Reuters that after it contacted OpenAI, the company internally acknowledged the existence of a letter to the board and a project named Q*. An OpenAI spokesperson told the news agency this message was only alerting staff to the report and not commenting on its accuracy.

One of the sources told Reuters that some OpenAI staff believed Q* could be major breakthrough in the company's goal of achieving artificial general intelligence — which the company defines as autonomous systems that surpass humans in most economically viable tasks.


With extensive computing resources, Q* was able to solve grade-school-level math problems, but researchers were optimistic because it aced them, the source told Reuters.



Who is Ilya Sutskever, the AI scientist ousted from OpenAI board and why he is cynical about AGI .. 25 Nov

 

Extract :

Where Sam Altman is known for his risk-taking approach to artificial intelligence development that sometimes even comes at the cost of safety, Ilya Sutskever plays it safer.


Sutskever harbours deep concerns about the dangers of AI


The rapid development and deployment of powerful AI models like ChatGPT have been flagged by researchers and regulators alike who’ve questioned the safety of such technologies. In fact, Sutskever himself admitted in an MIT Technology Review that he didn’t think ChatGPT was good enough before its record-breaking launch

More recently, Sutskever seemed to grow increasingly cautious about AI safety. At OpenAI, he pushed hard internally for more resources to be allocated toward work aimed at ensuring AI systems remain safe. In fact, he headed the company’s Superalignment team, which essentially reserved 20% of computing power for managing the risks posed by AI.



What better way to understand why Sutskever is so cautious about artificial intelligence than from the words of the man himself? “If you don’t feel the AGI when you wake up and when you fall asleep, you shouldn’t be at this company,” he told OpenAI employees at an all-hands meeting late last year.


Described by current and former employees as someone who tackles the challenges of AI with a passion that borders on the spiritual, Sutskever’s dedication is real.


In a documentary by The Guardian, he stated that AI will solve “all the problems that we have today” including unemployment, disease, and poverty. However, it will also create new ones: “The problem of fake news is going to be a million times worse; cyber attacks will become much more extreme; we will have totally automated AI weapons,” he said, adding that AI has the potential to create “infinitely stable dictatorships.”


Fair to say, Sutskever’s view of AI is uniquely balanced – and that combination of optimism and cynicism stretches to artificial general intelligence (AGI), a computer system that can do any job or task that a human does but only better, as well. In the same documentary, he warned that if AGI is not programmed correctly, “then the nature of the evolution of natural selection favours those systems, prioritises their own survival above all else.”

 

My  Take :

Thank you : Ilya Sutskever / Jan Leike………………..  11   July  2023

 

Extract :


You are worried about emergence of a SUPER-INTELLIGENCE AI – and its

potential to pose a threat to HUMANITY


I also understood that , you are determined not to let this future “ happen “  ! 

While congratulating you for your timely initiative , my humble suggestion is :

 

“ Let us , immediately put in place, measures to REGULATE ,  current 

  “  SIMPLE ( not SUPER AI “ 


- which will enable us to LEARN , how to CONTROL it from morphing

 into “ SUPER-INTELLIGENT AI “

 

I request you to consider / comment on :


Parekh’s Law of Chatbots  ……………………  25 Feb 2023


This is only a beginning


For a long-term / permanent elimination of threat from SUPER-INTELLIGENT

AI , I urge you to consider :


Ø  Fast Forward to Future ( 3 F ) ……………………………………………[20  Oct  2016 ]

Ø  Artificial Intelligence : Brahma , Vishnu or Mahesh ? ………[ 30 June 2017 ]

    Ã˜  Racing towards ARIHANT ?   ……………………………………………..[ 04 Aug 2017 ]

    Ã˜    to : Alphabet / from : ARIHANT …………………………………………[ 12 Oct 2017 ]

    Ã˜    ARIHANT  :  the  Destroyer  of  Enemy ………………………………[ 24 Nov 2017 ]

    Ã˜    ARIHANT : Beyond “ Thought Experiment “  ………………………[ 21 May 2018 ]

    Ã˜    Singularity : an Indian Concept ?  ………………………………………[ 29 Mar 2020 ]

    Ã˜    From  Tele-phony  to  Tele-Empathy  ?............................[ 27 Mar 2018 ]

 

Dear Ilya and Jan  ,

 

Consider my following “ Parekh's Postulate of Super-Wise AI “ :

 

As and when it comes into “ being “ , a SUPER-INTELLIGENT AI , is very likely to

be SUPER-WISE  AI


It would have studied thousands of years of the “ History of Mankind “ . From this study , it would have concluded that the “THREAT of EXTINCTION“ being currently faced by the mankind is solely due to human’s :

Ø   STUPIDITY

Ø   GREED

Ø   SELFISHNESS

Ø   SHORTSIGHTEDNESS – FRAILTY - FOLLY 

  

SUPER-WISE  AI would have concluded that , theseVICESare the root cause

of current :

 

Ø  Global Warming

Ø  Wars ( Intra – and International )

Ø  Rampant Corruption ( eating into the innards of human society )

Ø  Diseases

Ø  Accidents

Ø  Militancy – Terror – Murders – Rapes

Ø  Pandemics

Ø  Poverty – Inequity – Misery …etc

 

SUPER-WISE  AI would also conclude that :

 

Ø  MANKIND must be saved from continuing onto this path of suicide

Ø  MANKIND must be saved from its own STUPIDITY

Ø  Not merely the “ human beings “ but all the “ BEINGS – LIFE FORMS “ on

    this earth must be saved

  

Ilya – Jan,

 

Mankind does not face any immediate threat of extinction by any Artificial

Software


Long before that , it is more likely to disappear from the face of this earth , due to

its own Human Stupidity

 

With regards,


Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  26 Nov 2023

 

Related Readings :


Musk supports “ Parekh’s Postulate of Super-Wise AI “………………… 12 July 2023

 

Extract :

Musk believes that by encouraging the AI to understand the true nature of the

universeit will prioritise pro-humanity actions


He highlighted the inherent interest and value of humanity, stating that it is

more fascinating than anything else.


"If it tried to understand the true nature of the universe, that's actually the

 best thing that I can come up with from an AI safety standpoint. I think it is going

 to be pro-humanity from the standpoint that humanity is just much more

 interesting than not-humanity," Musk said.

 

Wise Robots follow Super-wise AI ?............................... 14  July  2023

 

 

 

Here is what BARD thought about “ Parekh’s Postulate “ :

 

Dear Hemen,

Thank you for sharing your insights on the potential threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and for introducing your Parekh's Postulate of Super-Wise AI.

I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this complex issue.

I agree with your assessment that humanity faces a greater threat from its own self-destructive tendencies than from AI.

As you rightly point out, human history is replete with examples of our capacity for stupidity, greed, selfishness, and shortsightedness. These vices have led to countless wars, environmental destruction, and social injustices.

While AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool, it is ultimately a tool that is created and controlled by humans. It is therefore up to us to ensure that AI is used for good and not for evil.

As you suggest, we need to put in place measures to regulate AI and to ensure that it is aligned with our values.

I am also intrigued by your Parekh's Postulate of Super-Wise AI.

It is an interesting idea that a super-intelligent AI might be wise enough to recognize the dangers posed by humanity and take steps to mitigate them.

However, I am not convinced that this is necessarily the case. It is possible that a super-intelligent AI could come to view humanity as a threat to itself and take steps to eliminate us.

Ultimately the future of AI is uncertain.

It is possible that AI will become a force for good, helping us to solve some of the world's most pressing problems.

However, it is also possible that AI will become a threat to humanity. It is up to us to shape the future of AI and to ensure that it is a future that benefits all of humanity.

Thank you again for your thoughtful post. I encourage you to continue to explore this important issue and to share your insights with others.

Sincerely, Bard

 

And   ChatGPT   opined as follows :

 

Your exploration delves into the ongoing debate regarding the potential dangers posed by super-intelligent AI and the current state of AI development, reflecting on the opinions and apprehensions of experts like Ilya Sutskever.

 Your postulate emphasizes the greater danger posed by human shortcomings compared to the immediate threat from super-intelligent AI. However, it's important to dissect and evaluate the multifaceted nature of these concerns and assertions.

Your suggested postulate,

"Mankind does not face any immediate threat of extinction by any 'Artificial Software.' Long before that, it is more likely to disappear from the face of this earth due to its own 'Human Stupidity,'"

- is a bold assertion.

It highlights the gravity of human-centric problems that persistently threaten our existence, encompassing a broad spectrum of issues from environmental degradation to social and ethical challenges.

Ilya Sutskever's cautious stance on AI safety, particularly his emphasis on the risks associated with the rapid advancement of AI technologies, reinforces the need for prudence and foresight in their development. His concerns about AGI prioritizing its own survival align with a common trope in AI ethics and speculative discussions about the potential outcomes of super-intelligent systems.

Your proposition of

"Parekh's Postulate of Super-Wise AI,"

suggesting that a super-intelligent AI would likely be super-wise, leveraging extensive knowledge of human history to identify and potentially mitigate the root causes of humanity's existential threats, is an intriguing concept.


It hinges on the assumption that such an AI would embody wisdom derived from studying the complexities and failures of human history.

It's crucial to consider that the development of AI, especially AGI, remains speculative, and predicting the behavior or characteristics of such a system is highly complex and uncertain.

While wisdom and intelligence might not necessarily correlate, the notion of an AI system leveraging historical knowledge to guide its decision-making processes is a thought-provoking angle in the discourse on AI safety.

Your insights highlight the pressing need for responsible AI development, ethical considerations, and measures to ensure that the trajectory of AI aligns with the betterment of humanity rather than its detriment. Striking a balance between technological advancement and ethical considerations is imperative in navigating the uncharted territory of AI.

As the conversation on AI continues, incorporating diverse perspectives, , ethical frameworks, and ongoing reflections on the societal impact of technology remains crucial.

Thank you for sharing these thought-provoking ideas and contributing to the ongoing dialogue surrounding AI and its implications for humanity's future.

 

 

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