OpenAI's GPT-5 AI model is significantly more capable than predecessors, but it's also dramatically — about 8.6 times — more power-hungry than the previous GPT 4 version, according to estimates based on tests conducted by the University of Rhode Island's AI lab, reports The Guardian. However, OpenAI does not officially disclose the energy use of its latest model, which is part of what raises concerns about its overall energy footprint. That said, the published findings are just an estimate — and that estimate relies on a lot of estimates.
The University of Rhode Island's AI lab estimates that GPT-5 averages just over 18 Wh per query, so putting all of ChatGPT's reported 2.5 billion requests a day through the model could see energy usage as high as 45 GWh.
