AI could consume more power than Bitcoin by the end of 2025

A new analysis suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) could consume more power than Bitcoin by the end of 2025.
According to Alex de Vries-Gao, a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Institute for Environmental Studies, AI already accounts for up to a fifth of the electricity used by data centers globally.
The energy consumption of AI is expected to grow despite efficiency gains, with projections suggesting it could use close to half of all the electricity consumed by data centers by 2025.
De Vries-Gao made these estimates based on the supply chain for specialized computer chips used for AI and acknowledges that the true figure may be higher due to a lack of transparency from big tech companies.
The growing energy demand of AI has raised concerns about its environmental impact, with some experts warning that it warrants more scrutiny as the technology continues to advance.

Art depicts coins floating against a green screen overlaid with white pixels.

AI could soon surpass Bitcoin mining in energy consumption, according to a new analysis that concludes artificial intelligence could use close to half of all the electricity consumed by data centers globally by the end of 2025.

The estimates come from Alex de Vries-Gao, a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Institute for Environmental Studies who has tracked cryptocurrencies’ electricity consumption and environmental impact in previous research and on his website Digiconomist. He published his latest commentary on AI’s growing electricity demand last week in the journal Joule.

AI already accounts for up to a fifth of the electricity that data centers use, according to de Vries-Gao. It’s a tricky number to pin down without big tech companies sharing data specifically on how much energy their AI models consume. De Vries-Gao had to make projections based on the supply chain for specialized computer chips used for AI. He and other researchers trying to understand AI’s energy consumption have found, however, that its appetite is growing despite efficiency gains – and at a fast enough clip to warrant more scrutiny.

“Oh boy, here we go.”

With alternative cryptocurrencies t …

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Q. What is the estimated energy consumption of artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of 2025?

A. According to Alex de Vries-Gao, AI could use close to half of all the electricity consumed by data centers globally by the end of 2025.

Q. How much electricity does AI already account for in data centers?

A. AI already accounts for up to a fifth of the electricity that data centers use, according to de Vries-Gao.

Q. Why is it difficult to determine the exact energy consumption of AI?

A. It’s a tricky number to pin down without big tech companies sharing data specifically on how much energy their AI models consume.

Q. What did Alex de Vries-Gao have to do to estimate AI’s energy consumption?

A. He had to make projections based on the supply chain for specialized computer chips used for AI.

Q. Is AI’s appetite growing despite efficiency gains?

A. Yes, according to researchers trying to understand AI’s energy consumption, its appetite is growing at a fast enough clip to warrant more scrutiny.

Q. What does Alex de Vries-Gao think about the growing energy demand of AI?

A. He seems concerned, as evident from his comment “Oh boy, here we go.”

Q. Is this a new area of research for Alex de Vries-Gao?

A. Yes, he has tracked cryptocurrencies’ electricity consumption and environmental impact in previous research.

Q. Where did Alex de Vries-Gao publish his latest commentary on AI’s energy demand?

A. He published it in the journal Joule.

Q. What is Digiconomist, according to Alex de Vries-Gao?

A. It appears to be a website where he has tracked cryptocurrencies’ electricity consumption and environmental impact in previous research.

Q. Is this a growing concern for the tech industry?

A. Yes, as AI’s energy demand is expected to surpass that of Bitcoin by the end of 2025.