Revealed: The AI chatbot requests that cause the most carbon emissions
A new study reveals that every query to large language models like ChatGPT consumes energy and generates carbon emissions.
Complex reasoning questions, such as those in abstract algebra or philosophy, lead to significantly higher carbon emissions, up to six times more than simpler queries.
Models designed for explicit reasoning processes produce substantially more carbon dioxide, with some generating up to 50 times more emissions than concise response models.
The study highlights an "accuracy-sustainability trade-off," where highly accurate AI models often result in greater energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Researchers recommend that users reduce emissions by prompting AI for concise answers and reserving high-capacity models for tasks that genuinely require their advanced capabilities.
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Revealed: The AI chatbot requests that cause the most carbon emissions
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