The environmental impact of AI

The environmental impact of AI is increasing rapidly and becoming more severe. Training GPT-3 generated 552 metric tons of CO2, which is equivalent to the emissions from 1,600 round-trip flights between Paris and New York. Data centers currently consume 4% of the electricity used in the U.S., and this could rise to 9% by 2030.

Each query to ChatGPT uses ten times more electricity than a Google search. In 2024 alone, Google’s emissions surged by 48% due to the expansion of AI. Additionally, large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily, which is enough to supply a town with a population of 50,000 people.