Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become a big part of everyday life. We use it at work and in our personal lives to ask questions, streamline tasks, show trends and even entertain us.
But, as the uses for AI continue to grow, so does its environmental cost – so we need to ask one important question. Can we keep using AI the way we currently are without harming the planet?
Many people aren’t aware of the environmental impact that comes with a single AI query. But the truth is that if we continue to use AI at the current rate, then it will put a significant strain on our natural resources.
A study showed that every single day ChatGPT alone receives 2.5 billion prompts. Over 600 million of these prompts are people searching for information.1
Running an AI prompt requires enormous amounts of data and energy, which contributes to global warming. A single query can consume five to 10 times the energy of a traditional search engine request. The more complex the query, the more energy it needs to fulfil the request2.
Researcher Jesse Dodge had quite a thought-provoking way of describing it. He said that one ChatGPT query uses roughly the same amount of electricity as lighting a lightbulb for about 20 minutes3. When we think about the fact that there are over 2.5 billion prompts input each day, that quickly adds up to a colossal amount of energy.
Another concern is the amount of water being used to run AI behind the scenes. In order to keep the hardware safe and stable, data centres need cooling systems which use huge amounts of water.
Water consumption is already a pressing concern. A recent study showed that for every 100 words that are generated by ChatGPT, over 500ml of water is used4. When you tally this up, it means almost one million baths full of water are being used every single day to run ChatGPT5. It’s estimated that ChatGPT “sweats” off enough water in one year to keep the fountains of the Bellagio replenished for 1,190 years6.
The way that AI is currently operating isn’t sustainable, but the good news is that governments and organisations are actively working on ways to improve the energy efficiency of these systems7.
Both the European Union and the United States have put in place legislation to try to reduce the environmental impact of AI. The aim is to build systems that can deliver the same quality of results but using less power and fewer resources8.
Most organisations today use AI in at least one business function. Studies show that as of 2025, 78% of companies had adopted AI and roughly 89% of small businesses used it for everyday tasks9. And it’s no surprise. AI can help teams become more productive, efficient and ultimately, help companies grow.
Significant investment is going into building the infrastructure needed to support the acceleration of AI10. It shows that it’s not just a passing trend, but rather a core part of modern technology.
As AI becomes an integral part of day-to-day life, many countries are beginning to explore the idea of “sovereign AI”. Sovereign AI refers to artificial intelligence that is designed, built, deployed and governed by a specific country or organisation.
This allows them to set their own laws and regulations, and retain greater control over security and data handling. From a sustainability perspective, it also means that the countries and organisations can decide how they source their energy and make greener choices.
In short, yes. AI is now so deeply embedded in the modern world that it would be a big surprise if we did a complete reversal and collectively switched it off. It has become part of the infrastructure shaping how organisations operate, how economies grow and how people interact with technology.
Looking ahead, we can only hope that sustainability will be a priority, with more conscious choices about how and when AI is being used. Even something as simple as turning off our Google AI Overviews when carrying out traditional searches can help reduce unnecessary demand and help protect our planet.
Technology is always on the move and evolving, but so are the risks that come with it. Having cyber insurance can help protect your organisation from online threats and the financial repercussions that come with it.
If you’d like to find out more, our team is always happy to help. Give us a call on 0330 808 1800.
Google and Microsoft report growing emissions as they double-down on AI : NPR
Ten British AI breakthroughs set to cut bills and heat homes more efficiently - GOV.UK
AI has an environmental problem. Here’s what the world can do about that.
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