The rapid expansion of AI technologies, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, is contributing to a significant increase in global electricity consumption. According to a recent study by BestBrokers, the energy demands of ChatGPT are placing unprecedented pressure on power grids, raising carbon emissions, and exacerbating environmental challenges.
The report reveals that a single ChatGPT query consumes approximately 2.9 watt-hours, about ten times the energy required for a typical Google search, which uses just 0.3 watt-hours. To illustrate the broader impact, BestBrokers calculated the total electric power consumption of OpenAI’s chatbot over the course of a year, considering the average U.S. commercial electricity rate of $0.131 per kWh as of June 2024.
Annual Consumption: ChatGPT consumes an estimated 226.82 million kilowatt-hours annually to respond to user queries. At the current average U.S. commercial electricity rate, this translates to a staggering $29.71 million in energy costs.
Daily Impact: On a daily basis, ChatGPT processes more than 214 million requests, consuming over half a million kilowatt-hours of energy. This daily energy consumption is 21,602 times greater than that of an average U.S. household, which uses about 29 kWh per day.
Comparative Energy Use: The annual energy required to power ChatGPT could fully charge approximately 3.13 million electric vehicles, each with an average battery capacity of 72.4 kWh. This is nearly 95 percent of all electric cars on U.S. roads at the end of 2023.
Household Power Equivalency: ChatGPT’s yearly energy consumption could power 21,602 U.S. homes for an entire year, based on the average household usage of 10,500 kWh. Additionally, this energy could support 137,728 hours of video streaming or charge 47.87 million smartphones daily for a full year.
Global Context: ChatGPT’s energy use surpasses the total electricity consumption of 12 small countries and territories, including Gibraltar, Grenada, and Samoa. Remarkably, it could power all of Finland or Belgium for an entire day.
The report highlights the growing environmental footprint of AI technologies, emphasizing the need for more sustainable practices in the development and deployment of these systems. As AI continues to integrate into daily life, addressing the environmental impact of its energy consumption will be crucial for mitigating its long-term effects on the planet.