CrankGPT Is a Hand-Powered Chatbot to Guide You Through the Post-Apocalypse
SqueezLabs has developed CrankGPT, a battery-less, hand-cranked device that runs small language models locally. The device uses a Raspberry Pi and a custom generator to provide AI access in off-grid or post-apocalyptic scenarios.
Why it matters
This project highlights the growing trend of 'small AI' and edge computing, demonstrating how LLMs can be decoupled from massive data centers and cloud infrastructure.
The apocalypse will be a pain in the ass for any number of possible reasons. The giant robot dinosaurs! The constant 1950s music blaring from mysteriously functional radios! The possibility of ending up as livestock in a terrifying cannibal basement and wondering why you didn’t read The Road more closely. But clearly, the absolute worst part of it will be not having ChatGPT to tell you what to do anymore. How is one to live without a weird internet parrot whispering sweet nothings in one’s ear all day long??
The article is a lighthearted, descriptive piece about a niche hardware project with no political bias.
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