AI Energy Consumption: Another Wolf Cry?

Recent predictions about the enormous energy consumption of generative AI have caused alarm, with some predicting AI will consume up to 25% of US electricity by 2032. However, history shows similar doomsday predictions, from personal computers to cloud computing, have consistently failed to materialize. The IT sector's electricity consumption has remained relatively low, far less than industries like cement production. While AI is growing rapidly, efficiency improvements will offset energy increases, and AI currently constitutes a small portion of corporate IT budgets. Ultimately, the fear-mongering around AI energy consumption largely stems from vested interests, concerns about economic growth, and general anxieties about technology, rather than a real threat.