tech
March 14, 2026
Unprecedented Consumption: 5 Seconds of AI Video Consumes as Much Electricity as This Kitchen Appliance for an Hour
The use of artificial intelligence carries a huge environmental and energy cost that most users do not notice at all. The latest report published by MIT Technology Review reveals staggering data about electricity consumption. Believe it or not, creating just one 5-second AI video consumes the same amount of energy as running a microwave oven for a full hour.
TL;DR
- Creating a 5-second AI video consumes the same energy as a microwave running for one hour.
- Each AI query, like asking ChatGPT, uses thousands of joules of energy.
- Ten AI-generated images and a few short videos can consume about three kilowatt-hours of electricity.
- Data center energy consumption in the US has doubled since 2017 due to AI.
- By 2028, AI is projected to account for half of the electricity used in large data centers.
- The integration of AI into services like Gmail and search engines will further increase energy consumption.
- The increasing demand on electrical grids may lead to changes in how free online services are provided.
- AI is a significant energy consumer with real-world physical consequences for the planet's energy landscape.
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