AI and Energy Consumption: A Comparison with the Human Brain

When using AI tools to generate even simple images, we may enjoy the process, but are we aware that we are emitting CO2 into the atmosphere if the server farm’s energy source is not sustainable or nuclear? Additionally, large amounts of water are consumed.

A speech by Elon Musk this week highlighted our current state:

The human brain is a clear example of a power-efficient computer:

❗ Our brains use about 20 watts of power.

❗ Only about 10 watts are used for higher brain functions, and we have built civilization with 10 watts of a biological computer.

❗ Even a 100-megawatt or gigawatt AI supercomputer today cannot yet do everything a human can do. It will be able to, but not yet.

There is still a long way to reach “perfect AI.” In the next few years, discussions on Green AI will become more frequent, as huge energy-consuming data centers are far from climate-friendly.