ChatGPT's Environmental Impact: Debunking the Myths
Recent discussions surrounding the environmental impact of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) have sparked concerns about excessive energy consumption and pollution. However, this post argues that these claims are largely exaggerated. The energy used by a single ChatGPT search is far less than commonly believed, dwarfed by everyday activities like watching Netflix. Furthermore, the total energy consumption of LLMs must be considered in relation to the number of users; its impact is significantly smaller than other internet activities such as video streaming. While training large models is indeed energy-intensive, this is a one-time cost, and subsequent usage energy consumption is far lower than many imagine. The author urges a rational assessment of the environmental impact of LLMs, cautioning against misinformation that could cause people to miss out on this beneficial technology.