Recent data from 2025 and 2026 indicates that the per-query energy consumption for AI models has decreased significantly, by an order of magnitude, compared to earlier estimates from 2023. Studies from Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft Research show median energy use for text queries ranging from 0.24 Wh to 0.43 Wh, a substantial reduction from previous figures of around 3 Wh. This decrease is attributed to advancements in model efficiency and optimization, though concerns remain regarding the overall environmental impact of data center growth and the energy demands of reasoning models. AI
IMPACT New data suggests AI's environmental footprint per query is far lower than previously thought, potentially altering public and industry perceptions.
RANK_REASON Article discusses existing data and research on AI's environmental impact rather than announcing new findings or releases.
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