ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Claude: 42% Energy Gap [2026]
Summary
Compares energy usage of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, with ChatGPT using 42% more energy per query than Gemini based on published estimates.
Key quotes
That 0.10 Wh gap between Google’s measured figure and OpenAI’s stated one works out to ChatGPT using roughly **42% more energy per query than Gemini**,
Anthropic has published nothing comparable for Claude.
This article provides a detailed comparison of the energy consumption of three major AI chatbots: ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, focusing on published and estimated energy usage per query. It highlights discrepancies in transparency among the platforms, with Google’s Gemini having the most rigorous, instrumented data. The article emphasizes that reasoning and agentic modes significantly increase energy use but notes the lack of comprehensive public measurements for these scenarios. It also contextualizes the energy usage in the broader landscape of AI and Ireland’s data center electricity consumption.