Google Downplays True Water and Energy Costs of AI Prompts

Google is facing new scrutiny over claims about the environmental impact of its Gemini AI assistant. According to The Verge, the company released a study suggesting that a typical Gemini text prompt uses just five drops of water and as much electricity as watching nine seconds of TV. But experts argue these numbers paint an incomplete picture, leaving out key details about AI’s true cost to the environment.

The study estimates each prompt consumes 0.26 milliliters of water and 0.24 watt-hours of electricity, producing about 0.03 grams of carbon dioxide. Google attributes the low numbers to efficiency improvements, boasting a 33-fold reduction in electricity use per prompt since 2024. However, researchers like Shaolei Ren of the University of California, Riverside, say Google’s numbers are misleading because they omit indirect water use tied to electricity generation. Most of a data center’s water footprint comes from powering servers, often relying on gas or nuclear plants that also require massive amounts of water.

Experts also criticized Google for excluding “location-based” carbon emissions, which reflect the actual energy mix of local grids. Instead, the company reported only “market-based” emissions, which can be skewed by renewable energy credits. Without this context, critics warn, the company’s carbon accounting hides the real-world effects of powering AI models.

This selective reporting comes as AI’s growing energy demand drives utilities to expand fossil fuel and nuclear generation, undermining climate goals. Even with efficiency gains, overall energy use and Pollution from AI are climbing—a phenomenon known as Jevons paradox. Google’s own sustainability report shows its greenhouse gas emissions have surged 51 percent since 2019, largely due to AI growth.

The debate over AI’s environmental footprint underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability. Big Tech companies cannot market AI as efficient while concealing the broader impacts on water, energy, and climate. Supporting sustainable practices, shifting to plant-based systems, and reducing unnecessary AI usage are steps we can all take to help protect the Earth while pushing corporations to do better.

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