Methodology & Sources
Transparency is key. Here is how we estimate the numbers.
Core Assumptions
Estimating the exact footprint of proprietary closed-source models (like GPT-4) is difficult because companies do not release exact energy data per query. However, using research papers and industry benchmarks, we can create high-confidence estimates.
Energy per Request
- GPT-4:~0.003 - 0.01 kWh / request
- GPT-3.5:~0.0003 kWh / request
- Images:~0.012 kWh / image (Smartphone charge)
Carbon Intensity
We convert Energy (kWh) to Carbon (gCO2e) based on grid intensity:
- Global Avg:~475 gCO2e/kWh
- Green Grid:~20 gCO2e/kWh (Hydro/Wind)
Water Consumption
Data centers consume water for cooling (Scope 1) and electricity generation (Scope 2). Research indicates a significant "water footprint" for AI.
"Making AI Less Thirsty" (Li et al., 2023) estimates that a conversation of 20-50 questions consumes ~500ml of water.
Data Sources & references
Disclaimer: These figures are estimates intended for educational purposes. The AI landscape changes daily. We update our constants as new peer-reviewed data becomes available.