Is AI a major drain on the world's energy supply?
How much electricity do AI data centers use?
AI data centers consume a significant amount of electricity, with estimates suggesting that data centers, cryptocurrencies, and AI combined used 460 TWh of electricity worldwide in 2022, nearly 2% of total global electricity demand46. The International Energy Agency projects that this figure could double by 2026, equivalent to Japan's usage figures. Factors such as increased adoption of AI-specialized servers and the energy-intensive nature of AI programming contribute to this growing demand.
What percentage of electricity is used for cooling in data centers?
In data centers, approximately 40% of electricity is used for cooling, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This is due to the heat generated by the servers and other computing equipment, which requires continuous cooling to maintain optimal operating temperatures and prevent overheating.
How does AI's electricity usage compare to a Google search?
AI's electricity usage is significantly higher than a Google search. Studies have shown that each request made to ChatGPT, an AI tool, uses roughly 10 times the power of a single Google search. This is due to AI services requiring more power than their non-AI counterparts and the energy-intensive process of programming large language models.