GPUs already within 2x of brain efficiency, and still beat human workers on energy

MikePFrank · x · 2026-10-09

Chip expert MikePFrank argues data-center power debates ignore compute output: measured per synaptic event in FLOPS, batched GPU inference is already within 2x of the human brain's efficiency (citing Nvidia's sparse 4-bit Rubin figures). The brain uses 20W, but an average human's share of global primary energy is 10kW (heating, travel, goods) — a GPU never flies to Hawaii. Even a human-level AI at hundreds of watts would out-employ humans on energy efficiency. His company is exploring resonant energy recovery to surpass the brain.

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