The way we use AI is changing fast. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, says typing a prompt in ChatGPT uses as much energy as heating food for one second. But how he got that number is a mystery.
AI is growing, and companies like OpenAI are being watched closely for their energy use. Some researchers think AI could use more energy than Bitcoin mining this year. Last year, others found that asking an AI to write a 100-word email uses as much energy as a bottle of water. But it depends on where the data center is located.
Many tech companies are now investing in nuclear power to run their data centers, especially those that use a lot of energy for AI. However, some environmental activists disagree with this approach. They say nuclear power isn’t a truly renewable energy source, even though it doesn’t release carbon dioxide.
As AI grows, we need to pay attention to how it will use renewable energy. Can AI develop in a way that cares about the environment?
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