A new UN report recommends that users drop polite phrases from AI prompts to lower electricity consumption. The advice comes as artificial intelligence drives rapid growth in global energy and water demands.
Researchers at the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health found that removing words such as “please” and “thank you” from prompts could cut ChatGPT energy use by up to 25 per cent. This change would save between 87 and 98 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, equal to the yearly residential consumption of up to 760,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. Kaveh Madani of UNU-INWEH said users should write concise prompts and avoid extended conversations or emotional attachments to the systems. “We are not saying be rude to your AI,” he added. “But don’t fall into the interaction trap and don’t go falling in love with it either.” The study projects that AI could consume 378 terawatt-hours of electricity per year by 2030, while data centres overall would require 945 terawatt-hours. It also estimates data centres will need 9.3 trillion litres of water by the same date. Researchers called for companies to disclose energy figures and for governments to set efficiency standards.