Google’s AI platform, Gemini, has unveiled its energy, water, and CO₂ consumption metrics per text query for the first time, aiming for transparency amid growing ecological concerns regarding AI’s sustainability. Each query utilizes an average of 0.24 watt hours of electricity, equivalent to a television running for eight seconds. Additionally, it consumes around 0.26 milliliters of water and emits approximately 0.03 grams of CO₂. Google claims these metrics reflect not only the AI chip’s processing power but also the broader energy needs of data centers. Notably, they’ve achieved a 33-fold reduction in electricity consumption and a 44-fold decrease in CO₂ emissions year-on-year. However, experts caution that these figures may overlook the full lifecycle impact, such as hardware production and regional water shortages. While Gemini demonstrates significant efficiency, the discussion on how to balance AI innovation with environmental sustainability remains critical in today’s digital landscape.
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