AI's Massive Energy Use Sparks Calls for Greater Efficiency and Transparency
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Training AI models consumes a massive amount of energy, equalling the annual usage of over 100 homes for a large model like GPT-3. However, exact figures are hard to calculate due to lack of data from companies.
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Making predictions is very difficult as models continue increasing in size, while hardware and software optimizations could counteract the upward trend in energy use.
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Generating images and text with AI can use almost as much energy as charging a smartphone. Figures vary widely based on model size and use case specifics.
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By 2027, AI's energy use could account for up to half a percent of global electricity consumption, similar to the demand of the Netherlands now. This depends on efficiency gains keeping pace.
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More transparency and efficiency standards are needed. Additionally, assessing if AI is the best solution for every problem could curb excessive energy expenditures.