AI Energy: Tiny Queries, Huge Scale

Estimate: long queries use 2.5 Wh, very long ones 40 Wh, and agentic reasoning about 50 Wh.

Data centers used about 415 TWh in 2024, or 1.5% of global electricity; the US used 45%.

In 2024, US data centers used about 540 kWh per person, versus less than 1 kWh in Africa.

AI-task energy fell at least tenfold annually in recent years, while data-center electricity grew about 12% yearly since 2017.