Industry
Is ChatGPT really as bad for the environment as people say?
The environmental impact of individual ChatGPT use is widely considered overstated: Epoch AI estimated a typical ChatGPT query uses just 0.3 Wh of electricity — ten times less than older 2023 esti...
The environmental impact of individual ChatGPT use is widely considered overstated: Epoch AI estimated a typical ChatGPT query uses just 0.3 Wh of electricity — ten times less than older 2023 estimates — making it roughly equivalent to a Google search in energy cost. For context, a ChatGPT query uses approximately 0.0029 kWh, compared to 4 kWh to run an electric oven for an hour, meaning one hour of oven use equals roughly 1,379 ChatGPT messages. However, significant uncertainty remains around the broader climate impact of AI model development, as researchers currently rely on sporadic voluntary disclosure, and transparency requirements may be needed to accurately quantify the true carbon and water footprint of AI companies.
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Source: industry