Is AI using too much power?

The large amount of electricity and water needed to train and run AI models in data centres.

Part of: Investigating Issues in Technology — Module 1

Understanding Is AI using too much power? in Issues in Technology

What it does: A carbon footprint tracks the emissions caused by AI's energy use. Better chip designs help reduce AI's energy consumption. Training large AI models needs a huge amount of electricity. Data centres use water to keep their servers from overheating. AI's energy and water use does affect the environment. Larger models usually need more power to train and run. Running AI models still uses power every time they respond. This is exactly what AI energy use refers to.

Common mistakes: AI does use electricity - a lot of it, especially for training. Cooling does use resources like water and electricity.

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Learning

Duo

Does training AI models use a lot of electricity?

YesNo

Matches

AI models use no electricity at all

↓

Wrong - training and running AI uses a lot of electricity

Applying

Meanings

Term

AI energy use

Meaning

The large amount of electricity and water needed to train and run AI models in data centres.

Practice

Training AI models uses a lot of electricity.

Testing

Gaps

AI training uses lots of

Check Answer

Spots

1AI uses no electricity

2Training models needs power

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Quick Questions

1. Does training AI models use a lot of electricity?

A. No

B. Yes ✓

Training large AI models needs a huge amount of electricity.

2. Do data centres need water for cooling?

A. Yes ✓

B. No

Data centres use water to keep their servers from overheating.

3. Does AI have zero environmental impact?

A. No ✓

B. Yes

AI's energy and water use does affect the environment.

4. Can newer, more efficient chips reduce AI's energy use?

A. Yes ✓

B. No

Better chip designs can help lower how much power AI needs.

5. Do bigger AI models generally use more energy?

A. No

B. Yes ✓

Larger models usually need more power to train and run.

Match the Pairs

AI energy use → The electricity and water needed to train and run AI models

Data centres → Buildings full of servers that need power and cooling

The mark of emissions AI leaves behind → Carbon footprint

Can lower how much power AI needs → More efficient chips

AI models use no electricity at all → Wrong - training and running AI uses a lot of electricity

Cooling data centres uses no water → Wrong - cooling often uses large amounts of water

Key Term

AI energy use

The large amount of electricity and water needed to train and run AI models in data centres.

Fill in the Blanks

1. AI training uses lots of electricity

Hint: Type the word for the power that runs data centres.

2. Data centres need water for cooling

Hint: Type the word for the liquid used to cool data centres.

3. Big AI models leave a carbon footprint

Hint: Type the word for the mark of emissions AI leaves behind.

4. AI data centres use huge power

Hint: Type the word for the large buildings full of computer servers.

5. Newer chips can improve AI efficiency

Hint: Type the word for using less energy to do the same work.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A AI uses no electricity

B Training models needs power

C Data centres run non-stop

Line A — AI does use electricity - a lot of it, especially for training.

Question 2

A Data centres need cooling

B Cooling never uses resources

C They use water to cool down

Line B — Cooling does use resources like water and electricity.

Question 3

A Big AI models use more power

B Small models use less power

C All AI models use zero power

Line C — All AI models use some power to run, never zero.

Question 4

A AI has a carbon footprint

B Bigger models mean more carbon

C Efficient chips reduce use

D AI has no environmental impact

Line D — AI does have an environmental impact through energy use.

Question 5

A Data centres use electricity

B They use water for cooling

C Newer chips can be efficient

D Efficiency never improves

Line D — Efficiency has improved with newer, better chips over time.

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