ChatGPT's Energy Consumption: A Second of Oven Use for Each Query
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Such an enormous amount of electricity is utilized by the AI software to process a single query. - AI Consumption per Query: An Insight into Power Usage by the AI Software
Delving into the energy consumption of AI software, ChatGPT is reported to consume as much power as about one second of oven operation, according to OpenAI, the developer company. To be more precise, an average ChatGPT query is estimated to consume around 0.34 watt-hours (Wh), though some sources suggest around 0.2 Wh for simple text-only queries[2].
For years, there have been concerns about the growing power requirements from artificial intelligence applications. While individual queries may consume less energy due to advancements in chip and server technology, the sheer volume of usage contributes to a substantial increase in power demand for AI data centers.
Better yet, corporations like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are contemplating the use of nuclear power in the US to help meet energy demands, all while minimizing carbon emissions[4].
Water Consumption: A Lesser-Known Impact
Given that data centers must be cooled, water consumption is another significant factor. There have been numerous studies attempting to assess the environmental impact of AI's increased use. However, due to various assumptions needed in the calculations, researchers often rely on approximations[1].
In a blog post, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared some insights on the topic, suggesting a positive future with artificial intelligence[1]. He recognized potential job displacement yet also highlighted the potential for a wealthier world, with ideas like universal basic income financed by productivity gains on the table[1].
Regarding water consumption, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman hasn't provided specific details in his discussions or in the available search results[1][2][3]. The focus has primarily been on energy consumption and carbon emissions.
- ChatGPT
- Power
- Software
- OpenAI
- CEO
- Sam Altman
- San Francisco
Sources:
- OpenAI CEO on the Future of Artificial Intelligence
- DeepMind's PowerHouse AI Model Could Cut Industrial Energy Demand by 80%
- Power consumption of AI datacenters: Why it's important, and why it's difficult to measure
- Major Tech Companies Plan to Use Nuclear Power to Meet AI's Energy Demands
I'm not gonna let you go, even when advancements in technology and artificial-intelligence continue to reduce the energy consumption of software like ChatGPT, as it's essential to address the associated environmental impacts, such as power demand and water consumption, especially considering OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has primarily focused on these aspects in his discussions and writings.
