Google has released new data that helps shed light on how much energy AI is consuming—and whether the grid can keep up.
Key insights:
- Operating a single “text prompt” via Google’s Gemini AI is now 33× more efficient than it was a year ago—using less electricity than about nine seconds of TV viewing.
- The company’s methodology includes energy, water, and emissions tracking, but only for standard text prompts—not image, video, or complex tasks.
- Grid operators are signaling caution, as the surge in data-center demand could strain electricity systems—particularly in areas like the Pacific Northwest with growing tech footprints.
This is crucial intel: AI might be trending toward efficiency, but the scale of adoption is still a tipping point for utilities.
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