Gerry McGovernMay 15, 2025

"Typical Chat-GPT query uses about 10 times more energy than Google search That’s just for a basic generative AI function. More advanced queries require substantially more power that have to go through an AI Cluster Farm to process large-scale computing between multiple machines."

"AI is typically deployed in 20-30 cabinet clusters at or above 40 KW per cabinet. This represents a fourfold increase in KW/ cabinet with the deployment of AI. The difference is staggering."

https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/i-sat-down-with-two-cooling-experts-to-find-out-what-ais-biggest-problem-is-in-the-data-center

I sat down with two cooling experts to find out what AI's biggest problem is in the data center

What they told me could force a total rethink of data center design

TechRadar pro
Show threadnightooMay 15, 2025

@gerrymcgovern
AI Chatbots are not the problem, if we're talking about energy use/effects on the climate.
10x a Google search is still an extremely small amount (as in 3mins of light bulb small!), and the 10x figure is also quite outdated (we're approaching 1x recently it seems)

The real AI-electricity offenders are apparently ad/recommender systems etc. and industrial applications.

I can recommend this post for a detailed discussion:
https://andymasley.substack.com/p/a-cheat-sheet-for-conversations-about

Using ChatGPT is not bad for the environment - a cheat sheet

The numbers clearly show this is a pointless distraction for the climate movement

Andy Masley
Show threadCy
Sounds like the old corporate strategy of getting the consumer to blame themselves for gross industrial excesses. The problem isn't disposable packaging manufacturers... the problem is you littering! Clearly! We should all boycott ChatGPT that would totally fix AI! And meanwhile, the behavioral analysts are quietly burning the planet trying to get their massive computers to figure out how to enslave us all. (Ad/recommender systems)

As this Andy Masley says:
The data implies that at most all chatbots are only using 1-3% of the energy used on AI.
CC: @[email protected]
May 15, 2025 at 5:02pmWeb