A new United Nations University report reveals that global data centers consumed 448 trillion watt-hours of electricity last year, more than all but 10 countries, and produced 208 million tons of CO2. By 2030, energy use is projected to double to 935 trillion watt-hours, with AI driving 40% of demand.
The report highlights that users can reduce energy by being more concise in queries. Industry leaders emphasize efficiency, but critics call for greater transparency.