Just How Much Energy Does Generating An AI Image Actually Use?

Energy consumption has been a hot topic in the media of late, with AI image generation only being the latest trend to go under the microscope. For instance, the sizable energy consumption that has fueled the sad evolution of cryptocurrency — in the neighborhood of 0.6% to 2.3% of the United States’ total annual electricity use – has made frequent headlines. In a similar vein, the environmental impact of such energy-heavy practices has also become a major topic of discussion. What many may not know is that in addition to using electricity to generate images, AI models require a considerable amount of water to operate properly too.

According to the University of California, approximately half a liter of fresh water is needed to conduct between 20 and 50 typical AI chatbot queries, on average. This water is needed to keep servers cool, allowing models to run as efficiently as possible. Concerningly, only a fraction of operators have been forthcoming with their water use data. With only so much water and electricity to go around, naturally, AI companies are looking into alternative energy sources to keep the models running. One proposed solution is nuclear fusion, which can generate tons of power and lacks the pollution and waste of other, more traditional energy-creation methods. This may seem great, but the tech needed to create fusion isn’t perfect yet, and there’s likely decades to go until it’s ready for widespread use. Thus, increasingly scarce resources will continue to be used in the meantime.

With the increasing prevalence of AI tech, the scale of the electricity use, and fresh water being in incredibly high demand, several politicians have taken action regarding AI’s environmental impact. United States senators led by Massachusetts’ Edward Markey have brought forth legislation to reveal the full extent of AI’s energy footprint. If the act is passed, the law will be enforced through the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which will set standards for AI models, including reporting, to address environmental concerns over excessive electricity and water use. As of the time of writing, it has yet to be moved through the Senate, let alone reach the House of Representatives or make it to the President’s desk.

The issue has become a global concern, and in a report from The Guardian, it was explained that in February 2025, a multi-country AI summit will be held in France, with a key point of discussion being AI companies’ ecological impact. An idea being considered is to have companies rated based on their environmental impression. Google and Microsoft in particular have publicly highlighted that the level of consumption that comes with their respective AI models puts emission reduction targets at risk.