Observed Signal · Sep 20, 2023 · Research Publication · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
AI Text Generation Emits 130-1500x Less CO2 Than Humans
A Cornell University analysis found that AI systems produce significantly lower carbon emissions than humans when generating text and images. Depending on the country, writing with AI emits between 130 and 1,500 times less CO2 than human authors, while AI image creation is 310 to 2,900 times less emission-intensive. The analysis includes model training and per-request emissions: GPT-3 training caused about 552 tonnes of CO2, while BLOOM caused about 30 tonnes. An unofficial estimate puts ChatGPT's footprint at 0.382 grams of CO2 per request, compared with BLOOM's 1.5 grams. The researchers caution that results are not universally transferable, that not all tasks are suitable for AI, and that social factors such as job displacement must be considered. Future technological and societal changes could shift the comparison.
The study provides data-driven context on AI's environmental footprint, relevant to AI infrastructure and adoption decisions, but it is not a direct adtech market event.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- A Cornell University analysis found AI text generation emits 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 than human writing, depending on the country.
- AI image generation produces 310 to 2,900 times lower emissions than human illustrators.
- Training GPT-3 generated about 552 tonnes of CO2; training BLOOM generated about 30 tonnes.
- ChatGPT is estimated to produce about 0.382 grams of CO2 per request, while BLOOM produces about 1.5 grams.
- The average US resident's annual carbon footprint is about 15 tonnes of CO2, equating to roughly 1,400 grams per 250-word page.
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