Using AI chatbots? Here are four ways to reduce the energy drain Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, estimate that a single ChatGPT query consumes about 10 times more electricity than a standard Google search, and they propose four practical steps to cut AI chatbots' energy use: choosing smaller, task-specific models; using more efficient hardware; optimizing data centers; and adopting user-side habits like shorter prompts. The recommendations, published in Knowable Magazine, aim to address the growing environmental footprint of generative AI as adoption surges. Article URL: https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2026/four-ways-to-reduce-energy-use-with-ai-chatbots Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49292617 Points: 1 Comments: 0