Google Reveals the Environmental Cost of Gemini AI Query
Summary
Reports Google's disclosure of the energy, carbon, and water footprints of a single Gemini AI query and the company's overall emissions trends.
Key quotes
one prompt: Uses about 0.24 watt-hours of electricity
Produces about 0.03 grams of COˢ equivalent (COˢe)
Consumes about 0.26 milliliters of water
The company’s total greenhouse gas emissions have risen 51% since 2019, with AI being a key driver.
The article details Google’s release of specific environmental metrics for Gemini AI, noting a decrease in per-query energy use alongside an increase in total corporate emissions. It also mentions Google’s investment in nuclear energy and demand-response agreements to manage power needs.