ChatGPT vs Google search: energy use
All comparisons
Google search0.3 Wh
AI prompt (text)0.3 Wh
Verdict
Today, a text prompt uses about as much as a Google search (~0.3 Wh). The famous “10× more” comes from an old IEA estimate (2.9 Wh), now outdated: recent models have cut their consumption by ~10. Honest caveat: reasoning or multimodal queries remain far heavier.
Sources
Frequently asked
Does ChatGPT use more than a Google search?+
For an average text prompt, no: both sit around 0.3 Wh. The gap shows up mainly with reasoning, image or video queries.
Where does the “10× more” figure come from?+
From an IEA estimate of ~2.9 Wh per query, now outdated: recent models have cut consumption by about 10 (Google reports 0.24 Wh).
Can one AI answer replace several searches?+
Often yes: a single answer synthesizes what would take several searches and page visits. In practice, the balance can even tip in AI's favor.