Harming the Earth with Good Intentions: The Most Misguided ChatGPT Prompts

ChatGPT has become an essential tool for many, aiding in writing tasks and providing emotional support, particularly among Gen Z. However, its widespread use raises significant environmental concerns due to high energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. The GPT-3 model consumed 1,287 megawatt-hours (MWh) during training, generating over 550 tonnes of CO₂. Operationally, it’s estimated to produce approximately 12.8 tonnes of CO₂ annually while handling around 11 million requests per hour. Research indicates that certain prompts, especially those requiring deeper reasoning or increased politeness (like saying “please” or “thank you”), result in significantly higher emissions. This raises alarms as younger users increasingly treat ChatGPT as a confidante, engaging in longer conversations that further escalate the environmental impact. Despite Gen Z’s environmental awareness, their reliance on ChatGPT for emotional connection underscores a growing digital intimacy that inadvertently contributes to their carbon footprint.

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