TL;DR

AI tools like ChatGPT use electricity, just like streaming and social media. But they often use far less energy per user, especially when compared to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and cloud gaming. This article breaks down the numbers in simple terms, shows what really drives digital energy use, and asks how we can use tech more responsibly — without blaming AI unfairly.

Intro

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often blamed for using too much energy — but is that fair? Let’s take a look at what AI actually uses compared to other digital habits, like watching YouTube or scrolling TikTok.

What’s the issue?

Recently, OpenAI’s CEO said that even saying “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT adds energy cost — every word the AI has to read and respond to uses electricity. That might sound dramatic, but it’s true: AI uses computer power, and that power requires energy.

But how much? And how does that compare to what we already use online every day?

One-Off AI Use vs. Constant Streaming

When you talk to ChatGPT or use another AI tool, it processes your request, gives an answer, and that’s it. It’s a one-time thing.

Compare that to something like YouTube or TikTok — those videos are watched millions of times, over and over. Every time someone watches, more electricity is used to deliver it.

It’s the difference between sending a one-off email… and streaming the same video to a billion people.

How Much Energy Are We Talking About?

Here’s a simple comparison for how much electricity common digital activities use per person over one hour:

💡 Reminder: More watts = more electricity = more environmental impact.

So Is AI the Real Problem?

Not really. AI does use energy, but:

• It’s usually a one-time use
• It doesn’t scale like videos that go viral
• The tools themselves are becoming more efficient

By contrast, streaming video and endless social media loops consume huge amounts of electricity, quietly and constantly.

What Should We Focus On?

Instead of blaming AI, we should look at how we use all digital tools:

• Can we make apps and systems more efficient?
• Are we watching content mindlessly, or using tech to solve real problems?
• Can companies be transparent about their energy use and clean it up?

Want the Full Technical Breakdown?

This simplified version gives you the gist — but if you’re into charts, sources, and deep comparisons, you can read the full article here: 🔗 https://muckypaws.com/2025/04/21/is-ai-really-the-energy-villain/

Join the Conversation

Have thoughts, questions, or ideas? Join the discussion on LinkedIn or share your view. Let’s make digital life smarter and greener.