‘AI trend’ a major threat to the ecosystem: One image consumes 0.29 units of electricity

ChatGPT’s ’80s Photo Trend’ has created a stir on social media in recent days. Users are uploading their ordinary photos and instantly transforming them into retro-style aesthetic photos created by artificial intelligence or AI. However, behind this tide of artificial intelligence use around the world, a deep environmental concern has emerged. Technology researchers are warning that the craze for such recreational AI use is putting severe pressure on the world’s energy resources and ecosystems.

The huge power consumption behind image creation: It takes many times more energy to ‘generate’ or transform a new image with AI than it usually takes to take a digital photo. A joint study by Carnegie Mellon University in the United States and the open-source AI platform ‘Hugging Face’ has revealed sensational information.

Research has shown that generating a single AI image consumes an estimated 0.01 to 0.29 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, depending on the complexity of the processing system and data center.

At first glance, this may seem like a small amount. But when millions of people around the world participate in the same trend, each creating 5 to 10 or more photos, the total amount of electricity used amounts to a huge amount.

Carbon Emissions and Environmental Impact Most data centers and cloud servers around the world still rely heavily on electricity generated from fossil fuels (coal and natural gas). As a result, the use of AI technology indirectly increases carbon dioxide emissions.

According to researchers, the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced is increasing several times as the harmful effects of keeping thousands of AI servers running 24 hours a day increase. In addition, millions of liters of fresh water are wasted every day to keep these powerful data centers cool, which is a major threat to drinking water sources.

Here are some tips from experts on how to use AI responsibly, create awareness about climate change and environmentally friendly technologies:

• Reduce unnecessary use of AI: Avoid creating numerous AI versions of the same image just to try it out or to follow a trend.

• Awareness raising: Creating awareness about the digital footprint and energy waste in the use of digital technology.

• Green Computing: Forcing AI service providers to use renewable energy (solar and wind power) instead of fossil fuels.

While enjoying the transformation of the digital world, ensuring the responsible use of AI or artificial intelligence to sustain the environment of the future world is now a major demand of the time.