The Energy Appetite of AI: Understanding the Power Behind Our Digital Brains
In our increasingly AI-driven world, it's crucial to understand the energy implications of these powerful technologies. Let's break down the energy usage of AI models and AI-based data centers in simple terms.The Basics: AI's Power HungerImagine AI as a very smart, but very hungry, digital brain. Just like our brains need energy to think, AI needs electricity to process information and learn. Here's why AI is such an energy hog:Training: When AI learns, it's like studying for a massive exam. This process, called training, requires enormous amounts of energy. For example, training a large AI model like GPT-3 uses about 1,300 megawatt-hours of electricity - that's enough to power 130 US homes for a yearEveryday Use: Even after training, AI still needs a lot of power to answer our questions. ...