As of mid-2023, OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-5, significantly increases energy consumption compared to its predecessor, GPT-4. Responses requiring 1,000 tokens may now utilize over 18 watt-hours of electricity, approximately the power of an incandescent bulb for 18 minutes. While GPT-5 boasts advanced capabilities, such as website creation and problem-solving, its enhanced performance comes with a hefty energy price. Experts at the University of Rhode Island reported that GPT-5 can consume up to 40 watt-hours per medium-length response, raising concerns about AI’s environmental impact, particularly given the daily demands created by billions of requests. Despite the lack of official energy usage data since GPT-3, researchers affirm that larger model sizes correlate with increased resource consumption. The urgency for transparency regarding AI’s ecological footprint is essential as the industry scales up, prompting calls for OpenAI and others to divulge comprehensive data on their models’ energy consumption.
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