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Carbon Emissions of #genAI in Context

David (Jhave) Johnston · 2025 · Data analysis

Carbon Emissions of #genAI in Context

A comparative analysis with data estimates. “As of 2025, dedicated AI is only a minor part of human carbon footprint: far below crypto, aviation, personal transport, diet, pets, and especially military emissions. Transmuting human aggression and acquisitiveness remains key to resolving climate change.” Annual CO₂e is charted by activity, from a US soldier at 25–40,000 kg a year down to ChatGPT at fifty queries a day, around 40 kg. The page notes that given proprietary secrecy, “all of this is extremely speculative.”

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