Artificial intelligence (AI) feels like something that’s happening out there, in Silicon Valley, at big tech companies and inside giant data centers you’ll never see. But even if you’ve never used AI a day in your life, you’re actually still paying for it in ways you probably haven’t noticed. This is because AI’s rapid growth requires massive data centers, heavy energy use and brand-new infrastructure, and the costs trickle down to everyday consumers.
Your Energy Bills Are Higher
AI runs on electricity. A lot of it. A 2024 report by the Internal Energy Agency predicted that the energy use associated with AI, data centers and cryptocurrency could be equal to the amount of energy used by the entire country of Japan by 2026. It’s also estimated that generative AI alone is expected to consume 10 times more energy in 2026 than it did in 2023.
As new data centers come online across the country to support AI growth, they’re competing for the same electricity that powers homes and businesses. Utilities are now being forced to either upgrade grids or generate more energy to meet demand. Either way, the costs get passed down to consumers. When demand for energy rises but supply doesn’t keep up, electricity prices go up.
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Job Market Changes
As companies test out AI tools, many are pausing or slowing hiring to see whether they can get the same output with fewer people. That means fewer openings, longer hiring cycles and more competition for the roles that already exist.
In fields like writing, design and customer support, AI has already started pushing wages downward and many entry level roles are disappearing. Employers know they can automate parts of the workload, so they may offer lower pay than they would have a few years ago. Or, they might restructure jobs so one person does what used to be handled by several.
These changes don’t show up on your monthly bills the way a higher utility rate does, but they can still affect your finances.
Companies Are Raising Prices To Cover AI Costs
You may not have noticed, but some of the subscription price hikes you’ve seen in the past year are also due to the rising cost of AI development and the massive computing infrastructure required to support it.
For example, Google Workspace added Gemini AI assistant into its business and enterprise plans in March 2025 with price increases of about $2 to $4 per user per month. Adding these AI features gives them a way to justify charging higher monthly fees, and supporting those AI features requires expensive data center expansion that consumers indirectly pay for.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Secret Ways AI Is Costing You Money — Even If You Do Not Use It
