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11. An 11th Thing: AI & the Environment

You may have heard that AI uses enormous amounts of electricity or water. It does use energy — but for a typical user, a chatbot conversation uses roughly the same energy as a comparable amount of time watching an online video or playing an online game. Worth being aware of, but not a reason to avoid using it.

Energy use in context

AI chatbot session
AI Chat
What are the best dog breeds for apartment living?

Great question! Several breeds do well in smaller spaces:

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — calm, affectionate, and happy on a couch.

French Bulldog — low energy, quiet, loves short walks.

Greyhound — surprisingly lazy indoors despite their speed!

Wait, greyhounds? Aren't they racing dogs?
They are! But retired greyhounds are famously mellow. They're often called "45-mph couch potatoes." A couple of short walks a day and they're content to nap the rest.
similar energy
Online gaming session
Online Game
HP
Score: 2,480
An hour using an AI chatbot is comparable to an hour of online gaming.