The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is undeniable, but a new report by The New Yorker sheds light on a potential hidden cost: its immense appetite for electricity. According to a report in the New Yorker, the popular chatbot ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, uses a staggering half a million kilowatt-hours daily to handle its 200 million user requests.This translates to over 17,000 times more electricity than the average US household uses in a day.
The dangerous numbers
What makes these figures more alarming is that the wider adoption of AI technology could lead to an even bigger energy drain. A study by Alex de Vries, a data scientist for the Dutch National Bank, published in the journal Joule, suggests that if Google integrated generative AI into every search, it could consume a mind-boggling 29 billion kilowatt-hours annually. This surpasses the yearly energy consumption of entire countries like Kenya, Guatemala, and Croatia.
“AI is just very energy intensive,” de Vries told Business Insider. “Every single AI server can already consume as much power as more than a dozen UK households combined.”
Estimating the total energy consumption of the AI industry is challenging due to the varying operational needs of large models and the secrecy surrounding tech giants’ energy usage, according to a report in The Verge.
However, de Vries, using data from chipmaker Nvidia, a leader in the AI boom, has come up with a projection. By 2027, the entire AI sector could be using a staggering 85 to 134 terawatt-hours annually, potentially reaching half a percent of global electricity consumption. This is significant considering major companies like Samsung use a fraction of this for their entire operations.
OpenAI has not yet commented on these reports.
The environmental impact of AI’s energy needs is a growing concern. As AI development continues, addressing its energy consumption will be crucial to ensure a sustainable future.
The dangerous numbers
What makes these figures more alarming is that the wider adoption of AI technology could lead to an even bigger energy drain. A study by Alex de Vries, a data scientist for the Dutch National Bank, published in the journal Joule, suggests that if Google integrated generative AI into every search, it could consume a mind-boggling 29 billion kilowatt-hours annually. This surpasses the yearly energy consumption of entire countries like Kenya, Guatemala, and Croatia.
“AI is just very energy intensive,” de Vries told Business Insider. “Every single AI server can already consume as much power as more than a dozen UK households combined.”
Estimating the total energy consumption of the AI industry is challenging due to the varying operational needs of large models and the secrecy surrounding tech giants’ energy usage, according to a report in The Verge.
However, de Vries, using data from chipmaker Nvidia, a leader in the AI boom, has come up with a projection. By 2027, the entire AI sector could be using a staggering 85 to 134 terawatt-hours annually, potentially reaching half a percent of global electricity consumption. This is significant considering major companies like Samsung use a fraction of this for their entire operations.
OpenAI has not yet commented on these reports.
The environmental impact of AI’s energy needs is a growing concern. As AI development continues, addressing its energy consumption will be crucial to ensure a sustainable future.