As AI adoption continues to grow, so do the technology's energy costs. Made up of high-compute systems, AI requires a lot of data, which needs to be stored on large networks of computers known as data centers. Just like your personal computer, those gigantic centers need electricity -- as does the process of training an AI model, which relies on more compute than traditional computer functions. But in the context of the energy we already use every day, from office lights and laptops to social media, how does that consumption actually compare? Can the technology's resource needs change or be improved over time? Is the time it supposedly saves worth the extra emissions? And what should you know about your personal AI footprint? We spoke with experts and researchers to help explain how AI really uses energy and answer your sustainability questions, complete with tips on what you can do.
