The electricity used for daily interactions with artificial intelligence (AI) has come under scrutiny, as concerns grow about the energy demands of these technologies. One report highlights that using an AI prompt—such as for coding, asking a question, or generating text—has become a common alternative to traditional web searches. This convenience, however, comes with a significant energy cost, as powerful data centers are required to run and cool the advanced computer chips that power AI systems. Using a generative AI, such as for creating or summarizing text, typically requires about 3 watt-hours (Wh) of electricity. In comparison, a traditional Google search uses only about 0.3 Wh. This difference is due to the intensive computing power needed by graphics processors (GPUs), which must generate each word in real time rather than simply retrieving information from a database. A single conversation with an AI, involving 10 to 15 exchanges, can use between 30 to 45 Wh of electricity—enough to recharge two to three modern smartphones or power an LED light bulb for four hours. For a professional who interacts with AI 100 times in a day, the energy consumption rises to about 300 Wh, or 0.3 kilowatt-hours (kWh). Over a five-day work week, this adds up to 1.5 kWh—roughly the amount of energy needed to run a washing machine on a 40 °C cycle. On a monthly basis, this level of AI use can consume between 6 and 10 kWh, equivalent to about 120 to 150 hours of 4K streaming on an LED television. Over the course of a year, this usage could reach 80 to 120 kWh per person. These figures do not include the energy required to generate AI-created images or videos. A simple AI-generated image can consume 10 to 12 Wh, while a few seconds of AI-generated video might use between 100 to 300 Wh. Environmental concerns have been raised about the energy impact of using AI for seemingly minor tasks, prompting calls for a reevaluation of its real-world benefits. Despite these concerns, data centers are expanding rapidly, and some policies are encouraging their growth. In France, for instance, senators have suggested building more data centers in the country to leverage its clean energy sources and reduce the environmental impact of artificial intelligence.